Wootton Bassett's Unquestionable Triumphs in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Mark Smith - Saturday November 4

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.

Advertisement

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"River Tiber was withdrawn and I was gutted for the owners, while Dylan's [McMonagle] horse Mountain Bear ran a stormer.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.

 

Visit the profile page for Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Switzerland Brother an Inglis Easter Highlight for 2025
An “arrogant’’, “dominant’’ and “awesome’’ victory solidified Easter Sale superstar Switzerland’s future at stud when he produced a devastating performance to win the stallion making G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington today.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.