Wootton Bassett (GB)

Leopardstown's opener on Friday is always a maiden marked out by the big yards and there was again the hint of the beginning of something as Ballydoyle's Italy gained TDN Rising Star status. All the rage at 4-9 for the extended seven-furlong contest, Wootton Bassett's half-brother to the deeply promising Bowmark who had won at York minutes earlier was settled behind the leading duo by Wayne Lordan throughout the initial stages. Sent after Thesecretadversary passing two out, the relative of the Derby hero Serpentine collared that son of St Mark's...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features Godolphin homebred Words Of Truth. 3.00 Newbury, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT WORDS OF TRUTH (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of the key members of a fascinating race which hosts several Royal Ascot hopefuls. Representing the Charlie Appleby stable which has started brightly with...

Relishing the step up to an extended 10 furlongs on Wednesday, Ballydoyle's Whirl dominated York's G3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes to continue Aidan O'Brien's remarkable run in the Classic Trials. Sixth on her seasonal bow in what could prove her final run at a mile in The Curragh's G3 Park Express Stakes, the daughter of Wootton Bassett from the family of Galileo's Hydrangea, Hermosa and The United States raced prominently from the outset off the strong tempo before being committed with three furlongs to race. Giving generously for Ryan Moore, last...

Representatives of Wootton Bassett's first Coolmore crop continued their plunder of elite-level contests with last term's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Henri Matisse doubling his tally at the top table and registering a narrow victory, in track-record time, from Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Jonquil (Lope De Vega) in Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp. The 12-5 favourite was positioned many lengths off the tempo as a group of five stole a march on the remainder of the field through halfway. Bustled along to reduce arrears upon...

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) had received favourable reports in recent dispatches from Ballydoyle and justified his lofty reputation with a TDN Rising Star performance going just shy of six furlongs in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas. The January-foaled bay's potential was reflected in the betting market and he headed postward as a rock-solid 1-2 favourite for this Royal Ascot stepping stone. Shadowing the pace set by 9-4 market rival Evening Blues (Blue Point) after a professional exit, he quickened smartly to challenge...

Naas's opening six-furlong fillies' maiden on Monday has a rich recent history and there was a lot to suggest that Ballydoyle's Simply Astounding (Wootton Bassett {GB}) can add another chapter. The fourth foal out of the high-achiever Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 11-8 favourite was out smartly and able to keep close tabs on the leading pair with Ryan Moore enjoying a straightforward trip. In front two out, the homebred drew away along with the well-regarded Cape Sounion (Ire) (No Nay Never) to beat that Donnacha O'Brien-trained rival by 1...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a daughter of dual Classic winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 5.05 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT SIMPLY ASTOUNDING (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is a significant presence in a significant maiden, being the fourth foal out of the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Minding (Ire) (Galileo...

Ballydoyle's standard had been hoisted just once in Sandown's G3 bet365 Classic Trial during the Aidan O'Brien era and last term's G3 Tyros Stakes runner-up Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) doubled that tally with a determined effort in this year's renewal of the 10-furlong feature. Let go at generous odds of 9-2, the €170,000 BBAG September graduate was the only one of five contenders without a ticket to Epsom's Blue Riband and, coming back off a 274-day sabbatical, stalked the leading duo in third for the most part. Easing outside...

Sunday evening saw Coolmore Australia unveil its much-anticipated 2025 fees and roster, including three new Group 1-winning stallions in City Of Troy, Private Life (Aus) and Switzerland (Aus). It was also confirmed that Wootton Bassett (GB) will continue to shuttle, with a fee still to be announced. "Wootton Bassett is the hottest stallion in the world at the moment and he is already making an undeniable mark on the breed in Australia," said Coolmore's Tom Magnier. "What is most exciting about him in an Australian context is that he has...

1st-Newmarket, £10,000, Novice, 4-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.08, gd. MILITARY CODE (GB) (c, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}--Wishfully {Ire} {SP-Fr, MSP-Ger}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), sent off at 6-1, tracked the early pace before being committed against the rail approaching two out. Soon in front, the newcomer asserted to beat fellow newcomer Moonfall (Ire) (Starman {GB}) by 1 1/2 lengths, with a telling 3 3/4-length gap back to the Brocklesby third Exclamation (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). "We came here with a bit of confidence, as he'd done some nice work with a small...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a full-brother to Coolmore stallion Blackbeard (Ire). 2.20 Curragh, Cond, €22,000, 2yo, 5fT CHARLES DARWIN (IRE) (No Nay Never) is the fourth foal out of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes fourth Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), whose son Blackbeard (Ire) carried all before him for...

Christopher Head-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) raced on turbo boost until running out of fuel in last term's G1 Criterium International, but bounced back in style with a pillar-to-post victory in Tuesday's G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. The G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains entry backed up wide-margin victories here and at Saint-Cloud with an eighth-length tally back at the latter venue's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon in his penultimate start. In command and comfortable on the front end for the most of this straight seven-furlong test,...