Son Of Wootton Bassett Gains Fourth Group Success

Topgear (6h Wootton Bassett – Miss Lech, by Giant’s Causeway) earned himself a trip to Royal Ascot when making a successful return to action in the Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal, marking a third consecutive Group win for the six-year-old entire.

Christopher Head’s charge was last seen bolting up in a Group 2 at Newmarket in October and was sent off favourite on his first start of the season at Longchamp. Ridden prominently by Stephane Pasquier, he was shaken up approaching the final furlong and ran on to score by a length and three quarters. Dual Group scorer Sajir claimed runners-up honours, a length and a half in front of Group 1 winner King Gold.

The performance saw bookmakers shorten Topgear to 8/1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, which his trainer confirmed was on the agenda. “That’s the idea that we have with this horse and we want to make it happen,” Head commented. “He’s really straightforward and a turning or straight track is not a problem for him.”

Ascot will be the first time Topgear has run over six furlongs since he won the Group 3 Prix Eclipse over the trip as a two-year-old. The multiple Group winner by Wootton Bassett is owned by Hisaaki Saito and was bred by Snig Elevage.