Wootton Bassett Colt Just Misses in G1 Sires’ Produce
The $1million Group I ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday very nearly delivered G1 success for exciting colt State Visit (2c Wootton Bassett x Celebrity Queen, by Redoute’s Choice), who powered to the line at his third start to be beaten a long neck in a pulsating finish.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, the Coolmore homebred colt won on debut at Canterbury in February and was then third in the Group III ATC Pago Pago Stakes last month.
Ridden by Jason Collett at his first try at 1400m, the handsome dark brown colt hit the line hard to finish second to unbeaten colt Vinrock with another highly rated colt Wodeton (2c Wootton Bassett x Fiera Vista, by Exceed and Excel) another half length back in fourth place.
Jason Collett brought State Visit home with a sweeping run out wide, while the winner sailed through along the fence.
"It was a really good run,” he said.
“If anything, the winner went up the inside late and if my horse was able to see it, he would have challenged it. Great run."
State Visit is the first foal of Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mare Celebrity Queen, who was bought by Tom Magnier for $2.5million at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Celebrity Queen had a colt by Justify last spring and is now back in foal to Wootton Bassett, who also went close in the $4million Group I ATC Doncaster Mile when his top class imported older stallion Royal Patronage (6h Wootton Bassett x Shaloushka, by Dalakhani) finished second beaten a head by Stefi Magnetica.