Second Group 1 Victory For Wootton Bassett’s Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico (2c Wootton Bassett - April Showers, by Galileo) collected a second Group 1 victory with an impressive success in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

The Ballydoyle-trained colt has thrived since stepping up in trip, capturing the Group 2 Champagne Stakes and then the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over seven furlongs.

Ridden again by Christophe Soumillon, Puerto Rico made all and was shaken up to stride two lengths clear at the two-furlong mark. The son of Wootton Bassett claimed victory by a comfortable length and three-quarters in the mile contest.

Aidan O’Brien said: “He’s a lovely horse and is very happy in front. He’s always happy to get a lead but he’s an unusual horse as he has a lot of speed but he stays as well.

“We wanted to see how comfortable he would be over a mile today and Christophe was happy to take a lead if someone else was going to go, but obviously nobody did so he was happy to go on.

“He’s a very classy horse and obviously very good. I think he’s a Guineas horse first then probably a Derby horse.

“He’s uncomplicated, relaxed, quickens and has lots of speed and goes on the ground. He would also be happy on fast ground as we were thinking of taking him to the Breeders’ Cup, so he is obviously a very good horse.”

Puerto Rico was bred by the April Showers Syndicate.