Wootton Bassett (GB)

   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 Aussie Girl in Lexington. Aussie Flair At Keeneland Woodford Thoroughbreds' Aussie Girl (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) triumphed in her second American start for trainer Will Walden at Keeneland on Oct. 17 (video). Bred by Airlie Stud, the chestnut won the Listed Brigids Pastures Stakes and was placed in the G3 Ballyogan Stakes last year. Sold for €35,000 by her breeder at Goffs Orby to...

There were 11 defectors from an overnight entry of 19 and a field of eight will line up for Saturday's £215,500 G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, Britain's final Group 1 event of the year, after final declarations were confirmed Thursday morning. Aidan O'Brien last won in 2022 with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and he is in the mix for a record-extending 12th success in the one-mile contest. O'Brien has trimmed his team from six down to one and relies solely on G3 Autumn Stakes and 'TDN...

All eyes were on Ballydoyle's 10-11 favourite Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) ahead of Tuesday's G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes, but it was the stablemate Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Salsa {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) who came up with the goods to edge The Curragh's mile feature. Sent straight to the front by Wayne Lordan from the outset, the relative of Galileo's star mares Hydrangea (Ire) and Hermosa (Ire) kept digging in as And So To Bed (Ire) (Kodiac {GB} threatened and briefly headed her in the final furlong to re-assert close home...

This year has seen a 6% decrease in the number of live foals registered to date in the General Stud Book, according to the Return of Mares, which has been published by Weatherbys. The returns to September 30, 2024 show that a total of 12,578 foals have been born in Britain and Ireland, 840 fewer than the 2023 figure of 13,438. It marks the first time in the last decade that the overall foal crop has fallen by more than 4% from one year to the next. The 6% drop...

Saturday's card at Leopardstown offered many clues to the 2025 Classics and it may have saved the best until last as Ballydoyle's Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Wading {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) became his sire's 10th TDN Rising Star in the closing seven-furlong maiden. Sent straight to the front by Mark Crehan, the son of the G2 Rockfel Stakes winner stayed on the rail as all others opted to race wide and surrender ground for a better racing surface. Turning for home with a sizeable advantage, the 28-1 shot kept galloping...

Strawberry Lace (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will be offered during the first day of Arqana's Vente d'Elevage, the sales company announced on Friday. The sale will run from Dec. 7-10. The dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is carrying a full-sibling to the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up. Offered by Normandie Breeding, the 9-year-old mare was bred by Swettenham Stud Bloodstock, Ltd., and is out of the listed winner Crying Lightening (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The extended family features Group 1...

The catalogue for the Goffs November Foal Sale, which features 1,021 lots, was released on Wednesday. Set to run from Monday, Nov. 18 through Thursday, Nov. 21, the sale will have lots catalogued alphabetically by dam each day from Monday to Thursday inclusive. Monday and Thursday are billed as equal, Tuesday raising the bar to an extent, and Wednesday traditionally attracting the most black-type pedigrees. Successful alumni include Japanese Group 1 winner Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Classic victories in the G2 German 2000 Guineas by Devil's Point...

Amo Racing made headlines again during Thursday's session at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when purchasing Lodge Park Stud's Wootton Bassett (GB) colt for 4,300,000gns, a record price for a colt offered at this sale. Lot 332 is out of a winning full-sister to the Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G2 Curragh Cup scorer Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Douglas Macarthur (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Another sibling, the G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up Al Naamah (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), holds the...

A Wootton Bassett (GB) filly offered by the Castlebridge Consignment became the first seven-figure lot during Thursday's session at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when bought by William Haggas for 1,700,000gns. Amo Racing filled the role of underbidder. Lot 311 is out of the G3 Park Stakes heroine My Titania (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), already the dam of three black-type winners trained by Haggas. They are headed by the Group 2 winners My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), while the Listed-winning...

Kempton's second division of the seven-furlong novice saw an impressive winner on Wednesday as Juddmonte's Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Nisriyna {Ire}, by Intikhab) defied a penalty to score by seven lengths. Returning to the course and distance of his debut success in August, the John and Thady Gosden-trained half-brother to their dual group 3 winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) tanked along on the front end under Kieran Shoemark before opening up in the straight to justify 4-11 favouritism from Fosroc (Munnings). The winner is also...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a half-brother to Classic hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). 3.51 Navan, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f 10yT LIGHT AS AIR (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is one of three Ballydoyle representatives and the sole newcomer, but of much interest as a half-brother to last year's G1 St...

Back in 2010, when Wootton Bassett (GB) registered what would ultimately be his defining success in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, few would have predicted the considerable impact he would have on the breed. Fourteen years on, the extent to which he has grown in stature during his second career was felt in the same Qatar-sponsored race as his son Camille Pissarro (Ire) stepped up to reward Coolmore's faith and investment in the sire's raw material. Up to seven furlongs and fitted with blinkers for the first time, Ballydoyle's TDN...