Wootton Bassett Session-Topper To USA

Foals were to the fore during the second session of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale and Blandford Bloodstock made the early running when bidding €160,000 for a filly by the increasingly popular Wootton Bassett (GB).

The weanling (lot 251) hails from a George Strawbridge family which includes the Group 1-winning siblings Call The Wind (GB), We Are (Ire) and With You (GB), and is the first foal of the unraced Ayelet (GB) (Hat Trick {Jpn}). The mare’s listed-winning dam Dream Clover (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a half-sister to the above-named trio. Ayelet was bought by Victor Langlais at the Tattersalls July Sale for 40,000gns and sent to the former Haras d’Etreham resident for her first cover with the resultant filly being consigned by La Motteraye.

“Tom Goff, my business partner, was looking for a filly foal for one of his clients,”  said Richard Brown, who was acting on behalf of an American breeder. “Tom had tried at Newmarket but wasn’t able to come over to Arqana. Then we saw this filly. She has been bought for an owner/breeder so it’s a long-term investment. She is by a super sire and from a really lovely family.”

A foal by the similarly popular Showcasing (GB) made his way onto the shopping list of Mags O’Toole and became the most expensive colt of the day at €150,000. Another first foal, lot 273 is out of the unraced Dadao (GB) (Intello {Ger}), a daughter of Anthony Oppenheimer’s G1 Coronation S. winner Balisada (GB) (Kris {GB}) and thus a half-sister to G2 Jockey Club S.-placed Galactic Star (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

With Arqana being mindful of the current curfew and lockdown restrictions which remain in place throughout France, the traditional National Hunt sector of this sale, which usually takes place on the final day, had been brought forward to the November sale and the remaining Flat mares and foals have been spread throughout the four days. That led to 70 fewer lots being catalogued for Sunday compared to last year, which naturally resulted in a downturn in turnover to €3,893,500 despite the clearance rate of 75%. The average was down by 16% to €29,056 and the median contracted to €24,000 from €26,000.

The well-related young Le Havre (Ire) mare No Faith (Fr) led the broodmare division and, in foal for the first time to Bated Breath (GB), lot 332 was bought by a partnership of Haras d’Etreham and Haras du Lieu Marmion for €112,000. The 5-year-old half-sister to GIII San Francisco Mile winner Tigah (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) raced for Prime Equestrian won three sprint races in the provinces for Christophe Ferland.

The Wertheimer draft remained popular, with the listed winner Sonjeu (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) being bought for €150,000 by Marc-Antoine Berghgracht. The 5-year-old (lot 434) daughter of Group 2 runner-up Wait And See (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who is now on her way to Ireland, is carrying her first foal by the Wertheimer-bred young Haras du Quesnay stallion Attendu (Ire). The family also includes the Group 1-winning fillies Golden Opinion (Slew O’Gold) and Samitar (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})

Another from the Wertheimer breeding operation to end up among the day’s leaders was the lightly-raced 3-year-old Angelissima (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who was snapped up by SARL Trotting Bloodstock for €95,000. The family has been lucky very recently for purchaser Florent Fonteyne, who this year bought Thirsty (Ire), an Oasis Dream (GB) half-brother to the filly’s dam Foreign Tune (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The 3-year-old, who is trained by Adrien Fouassier, broke his maiden at Deauville only last week by five lengths.

“It’s a family that I know well,” said Fonteyne of lot 300. “This family has been very lucky for us. She has been bought as a breeding prospect but she could run again beforehand, so she will head to Adrien Fouassier and he will tell us if she can run or not.”

The family has also been very successful for the filly’s breeder over the years and her dam’s other siblings include group winners Impassable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Spotify  (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and Attendu (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).

Haras de le Gousserie’s great year on the track was headlined by the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere victory of Sealiway (Fr) and subsequent trip to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup. Through Paul Nataf, the Chelhoub family added a youngster to the ranks by Sealiway’s sire Galiway (GB) in lot 385.

Out of the listed-placed Revedargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), the filly foal is not only bred on the same cross of the two Haras de Colleville stallions as Sealiway, but also the G3 Prix la Rochette winner Kenway (Fr), who also carried the colours of Haras de la Gousserie colours.  

“She has been bought as a future racing prospect,” said Nataf. “There has been Sealiway, Kenway, and we hope we have found the third.”

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Wootton Bassett To Stand For €100,000

Wootton Bassett (GB), one of four new sires on the Coolmore roster for 2021, will stand for €100,000 off a glittering season on the track that saw him sire two new Group 1 winners and 10 stakes winners.

Coolmore announced its purchase of Wootton Bassett in June from Haras d’Etreham, where the son of Iffraaj had stood since retiring to stud in 2012. After standing for as low as €4,000 in his third season, Wootton Bassett had been priced at €40,000 the past two seasons. Just a week after the announcement, Audarya (Fr) became Wootton Bassett’s second Group 1 winner in the Prix Jean Romanet, and she bolstered that form last weekend with a victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Meanwhile, Wooded (Fr) won the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc day, besting the defending winner and subsequent GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint scorer Glass Slippers (GB). Wootton Bassett’s other 2020 standouts include the G2 Champagne S. winner Chindit (Fr), GII Sands Point S. winner Tamahere (Fr), GIII Franklin-Simpson S. winner Guildsman (Fr) and G3 Prix de Fontainebleau scorer The Summit (Fr).

Coolmore also revealed on Thursday that G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}-Starlet’s Sister {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) will debut at €30,000 next year. The 4-year-old, who earned over £2.4-million and is a half-brother to American star Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), is one of three stallions on the Coolmore roster standing their first year at stud. Those also include three-time Group 1-winning miler Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Duntle {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) at €20,000 and G2 Coventry S. winner Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) at €7,000.

Circus Maximus remains under consideration for the Hong Kong International races in December before retiring. The winner of the G1 St James’s Palace S. and second in the G1 Sussex S. in the summer of his 3-year-old year, the Niarchos Family’s Flaxman homebred added another Group 1 win in the Prix du Moulin that September prior to a fourth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. At four, he displayed his affinity for Royal Ascot with a win in the G1 Queen Anne S., before another second in this year’s Sussex and a third in both the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and another edition of the Prix Moulin. The bay bounced back with a close second two starts later in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. His record stands at 17-5-3-3 and $1,881,584 in earnings.

“Circus Maximus is very tough and travels with a lot of speed,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “He’s that type of horse that can often make very good stallions. We’ll definitely be breeding to him.”

Circus Maximus’s sire and Coolmore lynchpin Galileo (Ire) is once again listed as private off a stellar season that saw him break the worldwide record for Group 1 winners for a sire (85) and add three new Classic winners among his nine Group 1 winners for the year: G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Oaks winner Love (Ire), G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Peaceful (Ire) and G1 Derby scorer Serpentine (Ire). Search For A Song (Ire) won the G1 Irish St Leger for the second straight year, while the evergreen Magical (Ire) and Mogul (Ire) were also standouts.

The vast majority of Coolmore’s proven sires receive slight fee cuts for 2021 in the midst of a difficult global economy, but one that goes up is Camelot (GB), who will stand for €45,000 next year off a season that saw him add four new Group 1 winners, including Irish Oaks scorer Even So (Ire) and Australian sensations Russian Camelot (Ire) and Sir Dragonet (Ire).

No Nay Never is the only other advertised six-figure fee on the roster aside from Wootton Bassett, and he is trimmed to €125,000 from €175,000. Fastnet Rock (Aus) will once again shuttle from Australia and will stand for €50,000 after his One Master (GB) won her third straight G1 Prix de la Foret in October.

The remainder of the roster is as follows: Australia (GB) (€25,000), Calyx (GB) (€16,000), Churchill (Ire) (€30,000), Footstepsinthesand (GB) (€12,500), Gleneagles (Ire) (€25,000), Gustav Klimt (Ire) (€4,000), Highland Reel (Ire) (€10,000), Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) (€12,500), Magna Grecia (Ire) (€18,000), Mastercraftsman (Ire) (€15,000), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) (€5,000), Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (€20,000), Sioux Nation (€10,000), Starspangledbanner (Aus) (€22,500), Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (€20,000), The Gurkha (Ire) (€5,000), U S Navy Flag (€12,500) and Zoffany (Ire) (€20,000).

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‘Very Courageous’ Audarya Runs Down Rushing Fall To Win Filly & Mare Turf

The French-bred mare Audarya (11-1) upset heavy American favorite Rushing Fall (5-2) to win Saturday's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf by a neck, providing the second European victory of the 2020 World Championships. The 4-year-old daughter of Wootton Bassett set a course record of 1:52.72 for 1 3/8 miles over Keeneland's “good” turf course, eclipsing the previous record of 1:53.01 set on July 11, 2020 by Speedy Solution.

It was the first Breeders' Cup entrant for ecstatic trainer James Fanshawe, the former assistant to stalwart Sir Michael Stoute. He'd traveled to the Breeders' Cup once before with Stoute, in 1986.

“First of all thanks to all the team at home,” Fanshawe said. “The (traveling crew) has looked after her superbly since she's been here. She's done everything right since she's been here. I just can't believe it, some race to win. I'm just so thrilled. PC gave her a superb ride. Breeders Cup has looked after us amazingly.” 

Owner Allison Swinburn was unable to attend the race, but Fanshawe said she'd be celebrating at home.

Audarya was ridden to victory by Pierre-Charles Boudot, taking the place of regular rider Ioritz Mendizabaz, who was unable to compete due to not passing a test for COVID-19. It was also Boudot's first win in the Breeders' Cup.

“She did it well and she was very courageous,” said Boudot, who shares an agent with Mendizabal.

Starship Jubilee appeared to stumble at the start of the Filly & Mare Turf, losing rider Florent Geroux. The mare was corralled by outriders on the backstretch, and Geroux escaped from the incident uninjured.

Mean Mary was the quickest off the blocks, streaking to the front along with Cayenne Pepper. Boudot crafted a beautiful trip from the 11-post in the 14-horse field, pushing Audarya through the pack to make it to the rail by the first turn. She settled beautifully in mid-pack down the backstretch, tracking fractions of :23.50 and :47.44, before pulling Boudot up into fifth position before the final turn.

“I said to Pierre-Charles to get a bit of cover because she might be a bit keen, but the way he got to the rail from stall 11 was just incredible,” Fanshawe said.

Rushing Fall had been tracking the pace from third and challenged Mean Mary around the turn, taking over near the sixteenth pole. Boudot tipped Audarya out toward the center of the course and began asking the filly for run. While she didn't show a big turn of foot, Audarya kept inching into Rushing Fall's lead and was able to wear down the favorite to win by a neck on the wire. Rushing Fall held second by a head in her final career start, while Harvey's Lil Goil checked in third. Lady Prancealot finished fourth and Civil Union was fifth.

The remaining order of finish was: Sistercharlie, Mean Mary, Nay Lady Nay, My Sister Nat, Cayenne Pepper, Peaceful, Mucho Unusual, and Terebellum.

Bred in France by S.A.R.L. Haras D'Ecouves, Audarya is out of the Green Tune mare Green Bananas. The filly commanded $147,475 at the 2017 Arqana yearling sale, and has compiled a record of six wins from nine starts overall with earnings of $1,289,046.

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Tamahere Impressive In U.S. Debut For Brown, Wins Sands Point

Swift Thoroughbreds, Inc., Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables' French-bred Tamahere made her North American debut a winning one in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Sands Point at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Tamahere entered the one-turn mile for sophomore fillies on the Widener turf off a nearly three-month layoff from a romping 7 1/2-length score in the Prix la Sorellina at La Teste De Buch in her native country.

Tamahere settled in seventh position as Pure Wow led the eight-horse field through splits of 23.87 seconds, 47.54 and 1:11.68 on the firm turf while being tracked by 2-1 post-time favorite Miss J McKay and longshot Drop a Hint.

Pure Wow maintained a precarious lead turning for home with Giacosa launching a four-wide bid and Tamahere following her run outside of rivals as Drop a Hint angled off the rail to stake her claim. Speaktomeofsummer, winner of the Grade 2 Lake Placid in July at Saratoga, was full of run but trapped behind rivals with a furlong to run as Tamahere, under urging from Irad Ortiz, Jr., demonstrated a powerful turn of foot and surged to a two-length victory in a final time of 1:35.21.

Speaktomeofsummer, with Joel Rosario up, arrived late to complete the exacta by three-quarters of a length over Drop a Hint.

Rounding out the order of finish were Pure Wow, a dead heat for fifth between Selflessly and Giacosa, Miss J McKay and Positive Power.

Brown said Tamahere, who was reluctant to load into the starting gate, performed to the potential she had shown in her morning workouts at Belmont and Saratoga.

“She trained brilliantly,” said Brown, who earned his fourth career Sands Point score. “As you can see behind the gate, there's still some work to do. She's a high-strung horse. She was a little bit keen early on, but Irad got her to settle and she showed us that turn of foot that she showed us in the morning. She's a really exciting horse to have for the future. We're lucky to have her. She gave us a lot of confidence that she would be a good horse.”

Brown's past Sands Point winners include Ball Dancing [2014], Uni [2017] and New and Improved [2019].

Ortiz, Jr., who guided Uni to her Sands Point score, said Tamahere settled nicely once away from the gate.

“She broke good and put me in a good position,” said Ortiz, Jr. “We got some pace in front of us and that worked out perfect because she settled down and relaxed so well. The trainer had told me 'she has a nice turn-of-foot, you're going to love her.' I just trusted Chad and waited as long as I could and when I asked her, she was ready.”

Rosario, aboard the late-closing Speaktomeofsummer, said his filly ran well once she saw daylight.

“It looked like for a second I had a hole to go through and then it just closed, so I had to wait a little longer,” said Rosario. “The other horse just got the jump. She ran well.”

Tamahere, bred in France by E.A.R.L. Elevage Du Sarai, banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 7-3-2-1. She paid $7 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card highlighted by the 130th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Futurity, a six-furlong turf sprint offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 6 at Keeneland. It is one of two turf stakes for juveniles on the 10-race card, with the Grade 3, $100,000 Matron for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs also on the docket. First post is 12:50 p.m.

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