Record Breaking G1 Wootton Bassett Colt

The Group I Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1600m) at Longchamp on Sunday was won by the race favourite Henri Matisse (3c Wootton Bassett x Immortal Verse, by Pivotal), who scored a head win over Jonquil with Camille Pissarro (3c Wootton Bassett x Entreat, by Pivotal) a length further back in third.

The race was run in blistering time with Henri Matisse setting a new race and course record in clocking 1:33.91 seconds.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Henri Matisse finished his juvenile season at Del Mar winning the Group I Breeders Cup Turf Juvenile and returned with a win in the Group III Red Rocks Stakes at Leopardstown on March 30.

He now has the overall record of six wins from eight starts and Royal Ascot is his likely next target.

“Henri Matisse doesn't like to be in front too long and it was a nice even pace. We were hoping it would be like that because he was going to be ridden back. When the pace is usually strong and even, if you have the best horse you have a chance,” said Aidan O’Brien.

“I'm never confident, I'm always hopeful. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but Ryan [Moore] gave him a brilliant ride. I We think he's going to be a St James's Palace horse, but the lads will decide that.”

Bred by the Immortal Verse Syndicate and retained to race by the Coolmore partners, Henri Matisse is a half-brother to Champion European 2YO Filly and dual Group I winner Tenebrism as well as Group II winner Statuette being the third stakes-winner among five winners from dual Group I winning Pivotal mare Immortal Verse.

It’s an elite Black Type packed family that features champion sire Last Tycoon.

Wootton Bassett is due back in Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000.