Wootton Bassett Has Many Fans

Wootton Bassett has been making news all over the world this year and one of our champion Australian trainers is already ahead of the trend.

Making her debut at Caulfield last Saturday in the Listed MRC Merson Cooper Stakes was two year-old filly Wiltshire Square (2f Wootton Bassett x Sausedge, by Shamus Award), who is not only trained and part-owned by Ciaron Maher, but she was also bred by him and while she did not win this time, her turn will come.

Wiltshire Square was easy in the market and beaten three-quarters of a length by Palm Angel (2f Starspangledbanner x Noblest, by Pivotal), but there was a lot to like about the run of a filly, who is the first foal of metro winning Shamus Award mare Sausedge, a half-sister to middle distance stakes-winners Vintedge and Youths Edge.

Coolmore’s Tom Moore was a guest Breednet podcast Tara Talk Racing this week and had been keeping a close watch on Wiltshire Square.

“She was three wide with no cover the trip and was probably a little unlucky not to win, so she’s one we will be following going forward,” Moore said.

“I see that she's out spelling now, probably on a Blue Diamond path, or maybe even a Golden Slipper path, I'm not sure, but she obviously showed a lot of ability given that Ciaron sent the mare back to Wootton Bassett and she has scanned in foal,” Moore said.

“He's got a lot to look forward to there with that filly and the mare as well.”

Wootton Bassett was acquired by Coolmore from his original home of Haras d’Etreham in 2021 and his current crop of Northern Hemisphere two year-olds are the first conceived at Coolmore in Ireland.

They have hit the ground running and include 42 winners so far that include 13 stakes-winners and he will be the Champion European 2YO Sire for 2024.

“What he's been able to achieve this year is something that's never been done before… 13 stakes winning two year olds in a crop and four are G1 winning colts,” said Moore.

“He's had 20 stakes-winning two year olds in his last two crops alone and 35 lifetime two year-old stakes-winners which is 62% of his stakes-winners in total.”

The move to Coolmore has given Wootton Bassett a big increase in the number of mares covered and also their quality with his first four crops of foals back in France all numbering less than 50 foals and conceived at modest fees.

“I suppose a few more numbers helps and the quality, but he seems to have an affinity with those Galileo and Sadler’s Wells line mares, which he's been treated with now being at Coolmore in Ireland,” Moore said.

“I think it could only be the tip of the iceberg for him as they train on at three.

“He's got big numbers coming through the system, extremely well bred, so Ballydoyle will be full of Wootton Basset’s for the foreseeable future and there is much to look forward to.”

Wootton Bassett already has a couple of colts in the market for next year’s Golden Slipper in West of Swindon, who made his debut with a strong second in the $1million ATC Golden Gift and also unraced Wodeton, who has trialled impressively for the Chris Waller stable.

Wootton Bassett has 30 entries for Magic Millions and six will be offered by Coolmore.