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Powerhouse operation snap up sire of Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor
Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) sire of European Champion three-year-old of 2016 and now Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor has been purchased by Coolmore from Haras d’Etreham.
“From his initial small crops in France, Wootton Bassett has achieved outstanding results,” said Coolmore’s David O’Loughlin. “His first crop of just 23 foals included Classic winner and european champion three-year-old Almanzor, he’s had two other colts finish second in the Prix du Jockey Club and two fillies finish second, beaten only a nose, and third in this year’s French Guineas – and this all from €6,000 nominations or less.
“He strikes us as a real Classic stallion, he gets a very good type and is a total outcross with his pedigree free of the major European forces like Sadler’s Wells, Galileo, Montjeu, Danehill, Green Desert, Invincible Spirit, Danehill Dancer and Dubawi. We are thrilled that he is coming to Coolmore and are very excited about what he might achieve when paired with our Galileo mares.”
Unbeaten in five starts at two years for Richard Fahey, Wootton Bassett landed two valuable sales events before running out a decisive winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Gr 1, 1400m), which saw him crowned champion two-year-old colt in France.
Wootton Bassett’s first crop conceived after a fee rise from €6,000 to €20,000 are now two-year-olds and they already include Richard Hannon’s unbeaten Listed winner Chindit and a pair of first-time-out winners at Deauville in the shape of Hiroo Shimizu’s Midlife Crisis and Fabrice Chappet’s Early Light, who won over 1200 metres on Tuesday.
Wootton Bassett’s 2020 yearlings were sired at €20,000 and his 2020 foals at €40,000 while he also stood at €40,000 in 2020.
“It has been an amazing journey, a real pleasure and a great pride for everybody at Etreham to be involved in Wootton Bassett’s stud career as he established himself as the most exciting up-and-coming sire in Europe,” said Haras d’Etreham’s Nicolas de Chambure.
“With his best-bred crops yet to run I have no doubt that he has a brilliant future ahead of him and the quality of the broodmare band at Coolmore will give him a wonderful opportunity to continue his upward trajectory.
“It is of course with a touch of sadness that myself and the team at Etreham will see him leave the farm however, we are looking forward to the first yearlings this year by his best son Almanzor and to retire the dual Group 1 winner Hello Youmzain in 2021. I would also like to thank all the shareholders and all the breeders that have supported Wootton Bassett during his eight seasons at Etreham.”
