Wootton Bassett (GB)

Starting his new term having signed off with success in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Ballydoyle's Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) overcame rustiness to capture Sunday's G3 Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" Stakes at Leopardstown. Reserved early by Ryan Moore off the pace set by Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), the 6-4 favourite arrived late to collar that rival and the eventual second Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). At the line, there were two half-length margins between the Wootton Bassetts and the non-staying Arizona Blaze. "He wants to...

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. Sunday's Observations features a full-sister to a Breeders' Cup winner. 2.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 8fT INTENSIFY (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of a duo representing Aidan O'Brien, with the full-sister to the accomplished Newspaperofrecord (Ire) preferred over Crystal Ball (Ire) (Wootton...

2nd-GP, $94,000, Msw, 3yo, 1mT, 1:23 p.m. ET E Five Racing's NEMO (Into Mischief) gets a start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Bred by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, the colt is out of New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita in 2016 followed by the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont the next season. Nemo is the $1.4-million earner's first foal to race. TJCIS PPs   5th-TAM, $53,000, Msw, 3yo, f, 9fT, 2:12 p.m. ET Michael Warden's Mimzy (Ire) (Wootton Bassett...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Mighty Eriu at Fair Grounds. Inns Of Court Filly Strikes At Fair Grounds Qatar Racing and Fergus Galvin's Mighty Eriu (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}) broke her maiden in style at Fair Grounds on Mar. 3 (video). Trained by Brendan Walsh, the 3-year-old filly was bred by Brian Canning and Tom Kelly. The bay caught the eye of Paula Flannery, who paid €30,000...

A 206-strong catalogue for the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale at Doncaster on April 23 and 24 was revealed on Tuesday. Its graduates have supplied 10 wins at Royal Ascot in the last nine years, led by multiple Group 1 winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), and other group winners to have emanated from the sale include G2 Flying Childers Stakes winner Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), G2 Mill Reef Stakes hero Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), G2 Richmond Stakes scorer Black Forza (Complexity) and Electrolyte (Ire) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who landed the...

Based at his Mill Ridge Farm, Headley Bell and his Nicoma Bloodstock have been helping clients mate their mares since 1979. With such notable successes as Trempolino, Suave Dancer, Keeper Hill, Barbaro, Street Sense, Havre de Grace, Oscar Performance, Bricks and Mortar, and the 2024 Preakness winner Seize the Grey, it's no wonder that many of the clients he discusses below have been with him for over 40 years. "It's such a gift to be able to assist our clients in this manner because it's something I'm passionate about," said...

by Renee Geelen/Tom Baddock/TTR AusNZ The spotlight on Day 2 at Karaka 2025 was firmly on lot 345, a magnificent filly by champion sire Savabeel (Aus). As a full-sister to star mare Orchestral (NZ), she captured the attention of all the big hitters and ultimately fetched a jaw-dropping NZ$2.4 million, breaking the record for the highest-priced filly in the history of the sale. Lot 345 - Savabeel (Aus) x Symphonic (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), filly, NZ$2,400,000 After an intense bidding war, Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller were compelled to stretch their...

by Renee Geelen/Tom Baddock/TTR AusNZ Wootton Bassett (GB) continued his meteoric rise through the stallion ranks, supplying two of the top five highest priced lots on Day 1 of Karaka 2025, while the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Tom Magnier and Michael Freedman featured prominently on the buyers' list. Lot 6 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Il Affare (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), colt, NZ$725,000 The progeny of Wootton Bassett (GB) continued to be hot property on Day 1 of Karaka 2025, starting out where they left off at the Magic Millions Gold...

Wodeton (Aus) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) punched his ticket for the G1 Golden Slipper with a 3 3/4-length win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday for trainer Chris Waller (video). The A$1.6-million yearling commanded plenty of hype and was already second in the betting for the Slipper, but the manner of his performance sees him vying for the top spot. Overcoming a slow start in the 1100-metre affair, the bay unleashed a powerful bid at the 300-metre mark under James McDonald, ultimately zipping home. He distanced the field in a couple of...

by Thomas Baddock/Kristen Manning/TTR AusNZ Day 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale saw a rush of action late, with progeny by Written Tycoon (Aus), Wootton Bassett (GB), I Am Invincible (Aus) and Snitzel (Aus) sending buyers into a frenzy towards the end of the session. The auction began with a sense of caution, with several lots by champion sire Snitzel garnering most of the early attention, however the bidding became fast and fierce later in the afternoon with Written Tycoon, I Am Invincible and first-season sire Wootton...

"He's been everything to us," was the sign-off from Gay O'Callaghan in this must-read TDN feature from Emma Berry, who had a golden opportunity during the Tattersalls December Sale to sit down with the Yeomanstown Stud patriarch, as well as his sons David, Guy and Robert, to discuss the remarkable story of their homegrown hero, Dark Angel (Ire). If you're one of the few who haven't read the piece already, then I urge you to correct that misdemeanour before we see in the new year, but first stick with me...

Coolmore shuttle stallion Wootton Bassett (GB) sired his first Australian juvenile winner when Pallaton (Aus) bolted up by 2 3/4 lengths in the 1000-metre Shinzo@Coolmore Plate at Randwick on Saturday (video). Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, the bay shifted off the fence at the 400-metre mark, split rivals inside the 300 and cruised past 3-1 crowd's pick Chergui (Aus) (Frosted) at the 100-metre pole to win going away. The colt now shares co-favourite honours for the G1 Golden Slipper with G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci...