Wootton Bassett (GB)

There as a slow-motion finish to the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines on Sunday, where Al Shaqab Racing's 3-year-old Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) gave his all to prevail in a drawn-out finale. Missing the kick a touch but able to grab the rail under Pierre-Charles Boudot, the 13-2 shot who had captured the six-furlong G3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly May 13 was marginally ahead passing the two-furlong marker. After seeing off his close companion Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), the lightly-raced bay hit the line a...

The 784-strong Arqana-Osarus October Yearling Sale catalogue is now online. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the sale has been completely restructured combining the Arqana October Yearling Sale and the Osarus September Yearling Sale, running from Oct. 19-Oct. 23. Alumni of the October sale include Group 3 winner and dual Classic bridesmaid The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), MGISW Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Basset {GB}), and GSWs Policy of...

Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was two-for-two and the pick on form entering Saturday's G2 bet365 Champagne S. at Doncaster and he emerged with that tally extended after ousting TDN Rising Star Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) for the prize. Successful in a strong renewal of the Listed Pat Eddery S. over this seven-furlong trip at Ascot last time July 25, the Richard Hannon trainee was anchored in rear early by a confident Pat Dobbs with the pace ahead searching and honest. Always travelling best looming down the outside of...

Ascot's two-day meeting continued to supply 2-year-olds with abundant promise on Saturday, with the Stella Artois British EBF Novice S. playing host to a new TDN Rising Star as Shadwell's Akmaam (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) stamped his class on the seven-furlong contest. Always travelling easily on the front end under Martin Dwyer, the 12-1 shot opened up passing two out and galloped out strongly to the line for a four-length success from Siam Fox (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), with Arqoob (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}) another half-length away in third. "He's...

Group 1 winner Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will make her next start in either the G2 Moyglare 'Jewels' Blandford S. at The Curragh on Sept. 13 or the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Oct. 4, trainer James Fanshawe has revealed. The winner of the Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet last out, Audarya was second in a Saint-Cloud listed affair as a 2-year-old in September of 2019. "She is in the Blandford on Sept. 13, but that might come a bit quick and she would have a penalty...

The catalogues for Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale were released on Tuesday, with a half-brother to 2019 G1 Investec Oaks heroine Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 965) one of the highlights. A total of 816 yearlings will go through the ring in Book 2 from Oct. 12-14, while 602 lots are catalogued for Book 3 from Oct. 15-16. Book 4 features 83 yearlings set to go under the hammer on Oct. 17. Alumni of Book 2 include champion and MG1SW sprinter...

There was a surprise in store in Sunday's G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet as the James Fanshawe-trained Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) took a significant jump in class to provide her trainer with a third renewal of this 10-furlong Deauville feature since 2014. Coming off a Newcastle handicap win over this trip Aug. 2, the 48-1 shot tracked the pace travelling easily and when committed by Ioritz Mendizabal grabbed the advantage before the furlong pole. Challenged by Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) all the way to the line, the bay who...

Following the precedent set by Petricor (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the previous race, Shigeo Nomura's Midlife Crisis (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) posted a more straightforward display to earn a  'TDN Rising Star' badge of his own in Tuesday's Prix Le Bougnat, a 7 1/2-furlong newcomers' test for colts and geldings, at Deauville. The 46-5 chance was away in second and quickly asserted for an early lead. Comfortably holding sway thereafter, he was shaken up in front passing the quarter-mile marker and powered ever clear under mild coaxing in the closing...

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 Insights features a full-sister to MG1SW Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). 1.30 Newmarket, Mdn, £6,400, 2yo, 7fT YIBIR (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), due postward in a first-time hood for this debut, is kin to three stakes performers headed by full-sister Wild Illusion (GB), who annexed the G1 Prix Marcel...

French listed winner Helter Skelter (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}-Winna Chope {Fr}, by Soave {Ger}) sustained a fatal injury on the gallops on Wednesday morning, owner Masaaki Matsushima confirmed to Jour de Galop. The colt, an €30,000 yearling at the Osarus September Yearling Sale in 2018 who was purchased by Matsushima after his 3 1/2-length victory in the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage, had held an entry in the June 1 G1 G1 Poule d'Essai de Poulains. He was a last out sixth in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau...

All the rage prior to Wednesday's G3 Prix Texanita, Al Shaqab Racing's Wooded (Ire) continued the strong start to the season for his sire Wootton Bassett (GB) by registering an authoritative success in the Chantilly feature. Dropping to this six-furlong trip for the first time, the G3 Prix la Rochette runner-up was able to easily lay up with the pace set by Juddmonte's filly Alocasia (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and when shaken up readily subdued her with 300 metres remaining. Stretching out with stamina assured from there, the 12-5 favourite hit...

Chantilly plays host to the G3 Prix Texanita on Wednesday, with the domestic 3-year-old sprinters having their say over the six-furlong strip. Al Shaqab Racing's Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) reverts to this trip for the first time, having shown smart juvenile form over a furlong further when a short-head runner-up to Kenway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the G3 Prix la Rochette at ParisLongchamp in September and third in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud the following month. He faces Guy Pariente's Wanaway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) who captured the...