Wootton Bassett Colt Stays Perfect In Queen’s Vase

The St Leger is being considered for Carmers (3c Wootton Bassett – Signe, by Sea The Stars) after he extended his unbeaten record in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

Successful on debut in May, Paddy Twomey’s charge followed up in good style in the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan eight days later and stepped up to a mile and six furlongs on Wednesday. Racing prominently under Billy Lee, Fiona Carmichael’s homebred improved to lead in the straight and kept on well under Billy Lee’s urgings to prevail by three parts of a length on the line.

“It's great he went and did it for Fiona [Carmichael, owner] today,” Paddy Twomey said after the race. “He's a very important horse for her, named after her late husband.

“I knew he'd stay and I knew that Billy looked comfortable turning in. When the bell rang, I thought we had a chance. Staying is his game and he's a pretty good horse.”

The performance saw bookmakers shorten Carmers to 12-1 for the St Leger, and Twomey confirmed the Doncaster Classic is under consideration for the colt.

“He's done everything we've asked,” the trainer said. “He's run three times and won three times. He's going to have an entry in the St Leger at Doncaster and we'll see.”