Wootton Bassett (GB) added his name to a memorable day for Coolmore Stud when his son Unquestionable headed a quinella for Aidan O'Brien in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.
Unquestionable was ridden by Ryan Moore to defeat the No Nay Never colt Mountain Bear by one and a half lengths, with the Cairo Prince colt My Boy Prince a head back in third.
Ryan Moore replaced Frankie Dettori on the winner after the scratching of the highly favoured River Tiber.
Never stop getting used to this (image Irish Racing/patcashhealy)
Sporting the colours of Al Shaqab Racing and raced in partnership with Coolmore, Unquestionable was making his sixth start of the season.
The son of Wootton Bassett won a maiden at the Curragh in May and was second in the Railway Stakes and fourth in the Phoenix Stakes. He headed to Santa Anita following a second to the Blue Point (IRE) colt Rosallion in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on October 1.
O'Brien celebrated his sixth win in the race.
"I'm delighted for everyone," he told the Racing Post.
"River Tiber was withdrawn and I was gutted for the owners, while Dylan's [McMonagle] horse Mountain Bear ran a stormer.
"It's very tough to win here, but I'm delighted for the lads as they put so much into it. It's hard to explain because it usually goes down when things start bad [River Tiber missing out]. After all, there are a lot of areas you can't control.
"Sometimes things fall for you and sometimes they don't, but Ryan gave him a beautiful ride."
It was the 17th triumph in a Breeders' Cup race for O’Brien, who is rapidly chasing down the record of 20 set by D Wayne Lukas.
Ryan Moore felt confident in the run that Unquestionable would prove hard to beat.
"I had a bit of speed underneath me and was able to get to the rail, while I was happy at every stage,”he said.
“He's a Wootton Bassett and we thought a lot of him and River Tiber [also by Wootton Bassett], but this fella ran well in the Lagardere. If things worked out better that day, I think he could have won.
Unquestionable a €340,000 Arqana yearling
"Aidan knows the right type to bring to this race and I'm delighted he and the second ran so well. I'm sorry for Frankie missing the ride, but things fell for me."
A €340,000 purchase for Mandore International Agency/ Al Shaqab / MV Magnier from the Normandie Breeding consignment at the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale, Unquestionable is the first winner from two to race for the Sea The Stars mare Strawberry Lace, a daughter of the stakes-winning Holy Roman Emperor mare Crying Lightening.
Unquestionable follows Almanzor, Audarya, Zellie, Bucanero Fuerte, King Of Steel, Wooded, Incarville, and Al Riffa as winners at the elite level for Wootton Bassett (GB), who stands at Coolmore Stud for $93,500.
