New 2YO Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
Fresh from siring a 1.4million colt at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale on Friday, Wootton Bassett was again in the news in France when Apples and Bananas (2c Wootton Bassett x Simannka, by Mastercraftsman) won the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage (1600m) at Deauville.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Dylan Brown McMonagle, Apples and Bananas was coming off a smart maiden win at Killarney and handled the trip away and step up in class to win by three-quarters of a length as favourite.
“He's a nice colt, he's stepping forward from race to race and this was another step forward from his maiden win last time,” said Joseph O'Brien.
“It was a strong maiden [at Killarney], he's tough and Dylan said he kept finding all the way to the line. He looks a nice colt for the future and will probably now go for the Goffs Million.”
Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Apples and Bananas was purchased by purchased by MV Magnier for 130,000 from the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale and is the first winner from stakes-placed Mastercraftsman mare Simannka, an Aga Khan Stud bred mare whose dam is a half-sister to Champion 3YO Colt Sinndar.
Apples and Bananas is the 46th stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett, who is back in Australia and will have his first Australian bred runners this season.