$725,000 Wootton Bassett Colt Stars in Karaka Book 1 Opener
The opening session of the NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 at Karaka on Sunday was topped by an outstanding Wootton Bassett colt from Il Affare that made $725,000.
Consigned by Curraghmore and purchased by Michael Freedman / Tom Magnier / Mick Wallace, the colt is the first foal of Group II placed Dundeel mare Il Affare.
Michael Freedman has already had success with Wootton Bassett as the trainer of Randwick debut winner Pallaton and he was immediately taken by the colt, who will continue a long-term association with Magnier’s Coolmore.
“I just loved him,” Freedman said. “He’s a lovely moving horse and the stallion couldn’t be going any better.
“We’ve known the Coolmore boys for a long time and back in the day, we trained quite a few for them. Tom and I have been chatting for a little while about trying to do something together and obviously he is by their stallion.
“He was a colt that he really liked, so it just worked out well.”
A great fan of Wootton Bassett , Freedman had anticipated the price and expects that to be the standard with his progeny going forward given he has the Golden Slipper favourite in Wodeton.
“The stallion couldn’t be going any better and I don’t think they’re going to get any cheaper,” he said. “I think there’s 17 of them in the Easter catalogue in a couple of months’ time, so it was about what we thought we’d have to pay.
“We were fortunate enough to have a lot to do with Danehills back in the day and so many of his good ones just had that really relaxed demeanour, and that’s what I’ve seen of his (Wootton Bassett's) stock that I’ve had so far.”
Also keen to acquire a Wootton Bassett was leading Victorian trainer Mick Price, who paid $600,000 for a Windsor Park Stud consigned colt from Matagouri that is a half-brother to Group III winner Francesca.
“I think he (Wootton Bassett) is an amazing stallion. We watched the whole story on him – the guy (Bobby O'Ryan) buys him for $200,000 and as a 12-year-old Coolmore buy him for $50 million. It can only be one thing - because his stock goes well,” said Price, who was also drawn to the colt as one of his previous stakes-winners Ayrton features in his female family.
“He is a beautiful stud-type of colt if we can get the right form with him.
“One of my owners, Greg McCarthy, who bred Ayrton, bred him. I haven’t spoken with him yet, but I believe he is keeping 10 percent, Tom Magnier is keeping 10 percent, so we have got 80 percent to go.”
Wootton Bassett was the leading sire by average on day one with all four yearlings offered being sold at an average $496,250 and he has six more yearlings to be offered in the next two days.