‘Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett coup an endorsement of Cambridge Stud sire’
Cambridge Stud yesterday welcomed news that international giant Coolmore had purchased Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj), France’s rising star stallion, in a high-priced deal that Henry Plumptre believes underlines the value of the sire line.
Wootton Bassett, who has made a big impact at Haras d’Etreham despite starting from humble beginnings, is the sire of 2016 European champion three-year-old Almanzor who will stand his third shuttle season in New Zealand at Cambridge Stud this year.
In the current shortened northern hemisphere season, Wootton Bassett has already been represented by eight stakes winners and, with his biggest and best crops to come, his upward trajectory prompted Coolmore to secure him.
He stood for €40,000 this year after starting out at a fee of €6,000.
“Wootton Bassett’s sale to Coolmore reflects the esteem in which he is held in Europe and we are delighted to be standing his best son Almanzor at Cambridge,” said Plumptre, the chief executive of Cambridge Stud.
“Our thanks go to those shareholders who supported us in what was, at the time, a leap of faith for Cambridge Stud under its new ownership and the New Zealand industry.
“Almanzor has covered two full books of mares in his first two years at stud in New Zealand and will cover a full book again in 2020. His first crop of foals in both hemispheres are outstanding.”
Almanzor, who won the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f), the Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) and the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m) at three, stands for NZ$30,000 this year at Cambridge Stud.
Wootton Bassett’s own sire Iffraaj (Zafonic) was a long-time shuttler to fellow New Zealand stud Haunui Farm but it was announced earlier this year that the Darley-owned stallion would not be returning this year because of his advancing age.
News of Coolmore swooping on Wootton Bassett broke on Friday night (Australian time), with the stallion to stand in Ireland next year. No decision has been made as to whether he will shuttle to Coolmore Australia next year.
“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,” Coolmore’s David O’Loughlin said.
“We are thrilled that he is coming to Coolmore and are very excited about what he might achieve when paired with our Galileo mares.”