David O'Loughlin

At €65,000, St Mark's Basilica (Fr) was the most expensive horse to retire to stud in 2022, with a racetrack performance and pedigree that justified the fee. After all, he was the world-champion three-year-old, European champion two-year-old and Cartier Horse of the Year, with a race record that included five straight Group 1 wins, from the Dewhurst at two straight through to the Irish Champion Stakes the following autumn. By Siyouni (Fr) out of the Galileo (Ire) Group-winning mare Cabaret (Ire), he is a half-brother to the Classic winner Magna...

Off the back of a star-studded season, No Nay Never will stand for €175,000 in 2023, which represents a €50,000 rise, while his dual Group 1-winning son Blackbeard (Ire) will join him on the Coolmore roster next year at a price of €25,000. No Nay Never has had an exceptional year. Older filly Alcohol Free (Ire) landed the G1 July Cup at Newmarket, but it has been his Coolmore-owned and Aidan O'Brien-trained juveniles that have set tongues wagging this term. Like his father, Blackbeard landed the G1 Prix Morny in...

More than ever, in the commercially unforgiving world of bloodstock, getting off to a fast start is crucial. Wootton Bassett (GB) did that twice, both as a racehorse and as a stallion. And in a particularly noteworthy year for his runners, the 12-year-old arrived in Ireland on Sunday to start the second phase of his stud career, having been bought by Coolmore from the farm that started him off so successfully, Haras d'Etreham. The standard-bearer for the first crop of his popular sire Iffraaj (GB), Wootton Bassett sailed unbeaten through...

Coolmore has purchased champion racehorse and sire Wootton Bassett (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}-Balladonia {GB}, by Primo Dominie {GB}) to join its stallion roster. The 12-year-old has stood at Haras d'Etreham in Normandy since retiring to stud in 2012. Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud, Wootton Bassett was a £46,000 yearling purchase by Bobby O'Ryan from the St Leger Sale in 2009. Trained by Richard Fahey, he went unbeaten through his first four starts in the UK before capping his 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and thus...

Coolmore has extended their support of the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown during Irish Champions Weekend, Leopardstown announced on Monday. The race, which has twice been voted the highest-rated race for fillies and mares by the Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, will be officially known as the G1 Coolmore America Justify Matron S. Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky stands two Triple Crown winners, American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Justify (Scat Daddy). The 2019 edition of the Matron was landed by Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}). "Coolmore are delighted...

Last year's G2 Coventry S. winner Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}-Helleborine {GB}, by Observatory) has been bought by Coolmore Stud and retired from racing. The 3-year-old will stand at Coolmore with owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms retaining an interest in the horse and supporting him. Calyx was the first winner for his standout young sire last June when winning at Newmarket in a five-length 'TDN Rising Star' performance, and he backed up 10 days later with a one-length victory over Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in Royal Ascot's Coventry. Sidelined for the remainder of...