Wootton Bassett (GB)

History may not ultimately repeat itself, but so far Causeway (Wootton Bassett) is doing a fine job of mimicking Ballydoyle's recent kingpin Paddington as he completed the Madrid-Tetrarch double on Monday. Sent off the 9-4 favourite for the Irish 2,000 Guineas trial over the same course and distance, the relative of Magical and Rhododendron worked his way past stablemate Neolithic (Sioux Nation) inside the final furlong en route to a two-length success from Andab (Saxon Warrior). Neolithic was a neck behind in third. "He's a lovely, big relaxed horse and...

Monday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden - over a trip 15 yards shy of six furlongs at Naas - has an honour roll featuring multiple Group 1 winners Fairyland (Kodiac) and Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman), who earned their Rising Star rosettes here. This year's renewal went the way of Aidan O'Brien trainee Victorious (Wootton Bassett), who became her sire's 19th TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, when displaying an array of gears and posting an impressive 1 3/4-length tally for the Coolmore and Westerberg partnership. "She's a lovely filly, but...

Yann Barberot trainee Lapotheose (Wootton Bassett) enjoyed market confidence heading postward for Sunday's Listed Prix Caravelle and followed up earlier victories at Angers and Toulouse with a narrow verdict back at the latter venue. Positioned several lengths off the clear leader in third until easing closer on the home turn, the 19-10 favourite and G2 Prix Saint-Alary entry was shaken up to launch her bid with 300 metres remaining and came under a late drive to deny the persistent Hatanka Fal (Hathal) by a head for a black-type breakthrough. Lapotheose...

Last seen running third in Meydan's Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas, Godolphin homebred and leading G1 2000 Guineas contender Talk Of New York (Wootton Bassett) made a winning European return with a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, performance in Tuesday's Federation Of Bloodstock Agents EBF Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket. "We needed to get back on track and today was a day where we were just focused on relaxing him and if he got beat he got beat," explained trainer Charlie Appleby. "We wanted him to settle and...

Haras de Castillon's first-season sire Texas (by Wootton Bassett) was off the mark with his initial crop on Friday as Azamra took the first at Marseille-Borely. Standing at a fee of €3,800, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up was represented in the five-furlong Prix de Carro by the Nicolas Perret-trained filly who began in the worst possible manner by ducking right out of the stalls and taking a fierce grip in rear without cover. Still able to surge by her peers and gain the advantage a furlong out, the 6-1...

Yeguada Centurion's homebred Wootton Centurion (Wootton Bassett), who earned a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, with a six-length romp at Chantilly in September, returned to the scene of that debut triumph to record a narrow victory and retain his perfect record in Thursday's Prix de la Croix de Pontarme. Sent into an immediate lead once again, the 29-10 second choice was headed by 1-2 favourite Lord Clover (Siyouni) soon after passing the furlong marker and rallied gamely under continued rousting to deny that rival by a head in the...

The racing world will have only to wait until Saturday to catch sight of Ballydoyle's spring buzz horse after Aidan O'Brien declared the 2,000 Guineas favourite Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) for The Curragh's Listed Gladness Stakes. Originally slated to head straight to Newmarket, the colt who hogged the headlines after last week's Press Day at Rosegreen will be fine-tuned for the Classic in the seven-furlong contest against older horses. Taking on a field of nine including last year's G3 John Of Gaunt Stakes winner and Prix de la Foret third...

Following on from Ballydoyle's earlier winner Accredited (Siyouni), Causeway (Wootton Bassett) made it a double for the yard on Naas's Sunday card as he emulated Paddington in winning the Madrid Handicap under top weight. Whether he goes on to hit the heights of his predecessor remains to be seen, but the Curragh maiden winner who hails from the family of Magical and Rhododendron showed grit to deny former stablemate Controlled (No Nay Never) in a photo for the seven-furlong contest. "Seven furlongs is on the tight side for him and...

As usual, the Wertheimers have an exciting Classic crop and the newcomer Harissa (Wootton Bassett) only added fuel to the fire at Chantilly on Monday. "I think a bit of her and so it's nice to see her confirm it," trainer Christophe Ferland said. "She could go for the Prix du Louvre [conditions race at ParisLongchamp Apr. 16] and then directly to the [May 10] Poule d'Essai des Pouliches." Lining up as the 7-5 favourite for the mile fillies' contest on the Polytrack, the daughter of the G3 Prix d'Arenberg...

Coolmore's Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) was last seen claiming a career high in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day and doubled his Group 1 tally with a pillar-to-post victory in Sunday's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. He becomes the 24th elite-level winner of the year for Aidan O'Brien, who extended his record haul in this one-mile test to seven. The Ballydoyle maestro doubled up on the card just one hour later when Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) made it 25 in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. For rider Christophe Soumillon,...

Unbelievably, there was a more expensive yearling purchase than My Ophelia (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's mile novice at Newbury but it was Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's 1.7million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 sensation who emerged as the TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard. While the William Haggas-trained half-sister to the top-flight performers My Prospero (Iffraaj), My Oberon (Dubawi) and My Astra (Lope De Vega) played second fiddle to Alpinista's sister Alpinara (Frankel) at that auction, she was the one making headlines on the track as she rewarded even-money favouritism...

Aidan O'Brien had a stranglehold on Saturday's G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy and was able to wrap up the British trainer's title with a one-two-three in the Doncaster feature led home by Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett). Sent off the outsider of the trio at 18-5 under Ronan Whelan, the Beresford winner scrapped it out with Action (Frankel) as the 7-4 favourite Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) floundered in the deep ground. At the line, he had half a length to spare over Lambourn's half-brother, with Benvenuto Cellini 2 3/4 lengths away. "He's a...