Guildsman Adds To Impressive Stakes Tally For Wootton Bassett
The Brendan Walsh-trained Guildsman (3g Wootton Bassett - Dardiza, by Street Cry) recorded back-to-back wins when taking Wednesday’s Grade 3 Franklin-Simpson Stakes worth $500,000 at Kentucky Downs.
The Qatar Racing-owned bay was Group-placed in the Round Tower Stakes and Coventry Stakes last season and gained his first US win in last month’s Tom Ridge Stakes. Sent off favourite for his latest start over six and half furlongs, he raced towards the back of the field under Tyler Gaffalione and made headway approaching the turn for home. Improving into second a furlong out, he ran on strongly to beat Island Commish by a neck. Brendan Walsh later described the winner as “a really talented horse.”
Bred by Haras de Saint Pair, Guildsman was bought by David Redvers at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale for €125,000. His dam Dardiza is a half-sister to the dam of Champion three-year-old Almanzor, who hails from Wootton Bassett’s first crop of just 23 foals. Guildsman becomes an impressive 8th Stakes winner from Wootton Bassett’s current three-year-olds, while his juvenile son Chindit extended his unbeaten record in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes last weekend.