Ides of March Wins G3 Round Tower Stakes
Wootton Bassett has an outstanding crop of juveniles running in the Northern Hemisphere this year and Ides of March (2c Wootton Bassett x Nickname, by Scat Daddy) added to their success on Saturday when he scored a resounding victory in the Group III Round Tower Stakes (6f) at the Curragh.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Ides of March was a short priced favourite after making good progress with a fourth and third at his first two runs in June and July followed by a big win at the Curragh to shake off his maiden tag earlier this month.
Ides of March was in a class of his own at the finish, pulling clear to win by more than three lengths.
“Ides of March is a powerful, fast horse. He finds it very easy to go quick. He travelled very easy through the race and he ran straight today. He looks like a Middle Park (G1) horse,” said Aidan O’Brien.
Ides of March holds entries for several upcoming Group races including the Group I Middle Park Stakes (6f) at Newmarket on September 28.
Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and raced by the Coolmore partners, Ides of March is the second winner and first stakes-winner from Group I winning Scat Daddy mare Nickname, who has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett that will be offered in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Denali Stud as agent as Lot 148.
Ides of March is the 47th stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett and is his fourth two year-old stakes-winner this year among 20 juvenile winners.
Wootton Bassett looked in great shape at the annual Coolmore Australia parade last weekend with his first Australian bred progeny racing here this season.