Wootton Bassett (GB)

by TDN AusNZ Protagonist (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) continued the success story of British trainer William Haggas in Australia when he captured the G3 Sky High S. (2000 metres) at Rosehill (video), beating fellow French-bred 6-year-old gelding Zeyrek (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) when holding on in a photo finish. It won't be a huge surprise to the team at home, as you may remember Haggas serving a warning on Protagonist late last month when he told TDN AusNZ readers, "You shouldn't underestimate him, he's quite a smart horse." Still,...

4th-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 12-16, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2f (AWT), 1:31.73, st. QUICKSTEP (FR) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}--Dance Toupie {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) was well away from the inside stall to race in a handy third after the opening quarter of this debutantes' heat. Making smooth headway on the bridle in the straight and sent with 300 metres remaining, the even-money pick took a slender advantage into the final furlong and kept on powerfully under whipless coaxing in the closing stages to defeat Sunlike (Fr) (De Treville {GB}) by...

Second to the reopposing Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in his July 16 debut over seven furlongs at the Curragh, Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Love On My Mind {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) graduated over the same course and distance last month and stepped forward to provide apprentice jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle with a career high in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., his third seven-furlong outing at the Co. Kildare venue. The 9-1 chance settled into a rhythm behind all five rivals through...

A filly by Churchill (Ire) out of the dual listed-placed Rabiosa Fiore (GB) (Sakhee's Secret {GB}) emerged as the €200,000 top lot during Saturday's SGA Yearling Sale in Milan. Consigned by Razza Vedano, the Mar. 6 foal (lot 28), named Rinnovati (Ity), is a half-sister to the two-time stakes winner Amalaura (Ire) (Raven's Pass). Another half-sister, the Saxon Warrior (Jpn) filly Rage Of Bamby (Ire) graduated at Leicester on Sept. 6. Marco Bozzi was in action for the relative of French Classic heroine East Of The Moon (Private Account). Bozzi...

Jean-Claude Rouget unveiled another TDN Rising Star at ParisLongchamp on Thursday as Nurlan Bizakov's Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Penny Lane {Ger}, by Lord Of England {Ger}) scored with abundant promise in the Prix de Fontenoy over a mile for colts and gelding beginners. Anchored in fifth early by Cristian Demuro, the 100-30 second favourite tended to over-race but when asked to stretch two out found a 10.94 penultimate split to reach the Wertheimers' Speechman (Kingman {GB}) on the front end. Stretching away from the furlong pole, the bay hit the...

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Alabama S., one of the oldest stakes races in the country. Dating to 1872, eight years after the first Travers S. was run and 12 years after the first Queen's Plate (the oldest stakes race in North America), the Alabama is the last leg in New York's Triple Tiara following the GI Acorn S. and the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. The major-league...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed 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 a son of dual group winner Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}).   16.45 York, Mdn, £80,000, 2yo, 7fT Aidan O'Brien trainee SALT LAKE CITY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Flying Childers S. victrix Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) loaded up with...

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Longines Test S., a prestigious 3-year old filly event on the Saratoga calendar for the past century. Ah, the Test, the glorious Test. Remember the scintillating call--already 20 years ago--by Tom Durkin during the epic stretch battle between You and Carson Hollow? This race has been so good for so long. At seven furlongs since its second edition, it has delivered pulsating stretch...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a relative of Group 2 winner Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). 4.38 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT WILLIAM TELL (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at €420,000 was the joint-second highest-priced lot at last year's Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale and debuts days after that auction's topper Denmark...

Earning compensation for respectable efforts in the top league, Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) battled to a typically game success in Saturday's G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot. Third in the May 14 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury and fourth in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 14, the 85-40 second favourite was in shallower waters here and took to the lead early to establish his presence. Looking likely to surrender as the 7-4 favourite Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) edged ahead...

The 315-strong Arqana September Yearling Sale catalogue was released on Friday. Slated for Sept. 8-9, the sale will offer a selection of forward and mature yearlings, and is an substitute and extension of the v.2 Yearling Sale that was traditionally held directly after the August Yearling Sale in Deauville. Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), a €40,000 purchase out of the v.2 Sale, went on to win the G1 French 1000 Guineas. One of only two Wootton Bassett (GB) yearlings in the catalogue is lot 217, a son of Group...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features the final foal out of Marlinka (GB) (Marju {Ire}). 4.45 York, Mdn, £20,000, 2yo, 6fT UBETTABEQUICK (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the joint top-priced filly at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale at €350,000, debuts for Martin Webb Racing and the Nigel Tinkler stable who teamed up...