Dazzling Debut Winner for Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett unleashed another exciting two year-old debut winner in Australia on Friday night when regally bred colt State Visit (2c Wootton Bassett x Celebrity Queen, by Redoute’s Choice) charged to the line to score at Canterbury.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Jason Collett, the Coolmore homebred colt had two quiet trials going into this 1250m maiden assignment and was doing his best work late to surge home and win by half a length.

“He’s got the best attitude,” said Maher assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord.

“Lovely action. Everything you want in a colt. He showed a turn of foot late. He’s got plenty of talent.”

Jason Collett was also full of praise for State Visit.

“It was really likeable the way he attacked the line,” said Collett.

“That last 100 metres, that was awesome.”

State Visit is the first foal of Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mare Celebrity Queen, who was bred and raced by Bob and Sandra Peters before being offered at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale where she made $2.5million when purchased by Tom Magnier in 2021.

While Coolmore retained State Visit, his yearling half-brother by Pierro will be offered in the Coolmore draft at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 317.

It’s a strong family with second dam Celebrity Miss being a stakes winner of eight races, and the third dam Miss Margaret, is a dual Group I winner of the 1600m Chrysler Stakes and 2500m South Australian Oaks.

Celebrity Queen foaled a colt byJustify last season and was returned to Wootton Bassett.

It’s the fourth Australian first crop winner - all of them are metro winners - for Wootton Basset and he is also the sire of stakes-placed Gallo Nero, Yamashita’s Gold and Wiltshire Square, who lines up this afternoon in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes.