G1 2YO Double for Wootton Bassett

Tara Madgwick - Monday October 28

It always had the potential to be a blockbuster year for Wootton Bassett (GB) with his first two year-olds conceived at Coolmore in Ireland taking flight in 2024 and the results have been spectacular with a Group I double for juveniles in France overnight putting the icing on the cake.

The Group I Criterium International (1600m) at Saint-Cloud had a red hot favourite in boom Wootton Bassett colt Maranoa Charlie, but the Aussie owned youngster raced too keenly in the lead and lost his unbeaten record when fading to finish fourth with victory going to the Aidan O’Brien trained Wootton Bassett colt Twain.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, Twain was pitched into a Group I at just his second start following a facile six length maiden win at Leopardstown over 7f just a week ago.

He looked super impressive in cruising home to win over his stablemate Mount Kilimanjaro with another Wootton Bassett colt Apples and Bananas in third place.

 

While all attention was on British Champion’s Day at Ascot last Saturday, anyone that saw Twain win in Ireland would not have been shocked when he was supplemented into the Criterium International.

“Anyone who saw him thought he was special. We thought the second and third were decent horses and Twain quickened and left them. What he did was different,” said Aidan O’Brien.

Advertisement

Taking on tougher class in France off a quick turnaround, Twain showed his class.

“It probably wasn't fair to him, he only ran eight days ago. He's always been highly rated and we ran him last week just in case what happened did happen, as we knew we had to give him a chance and there was only one Group 1 left,” said O’Brien.

"He's obviously a very good horse, but Ryan said he was very green. He said he jumped very smartly and then he went to sleep. He said he got there too early and was very green when he got there.”

A homebred for Coolmore, Twain is bred for greatness as a half-brother to Group II winner Just Wonderful from Group II winning Montjeu mare Wading, who is a sibling to Group I winners Bracelet and Athena and most importantly a grand-daughter of champion racemare and legendary blue hen Urban Sea.

 

The Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (2000m) attracted a field of just three and the winner was the Joseph O’Brien trained Wootton Bassett colt Tennesee Stud, who was a short priced favourite coming off a last  start second in a Group race won by Hotazhell, who then took out the Group I Doncaster Futurity Trophy on Saturday.

Ridden by Dylan Brown McMonagle, Tennesee Stud forged clear to win by a length and a half over Circus Maximus colt Green Storm.

 

Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud was won last year by Los Angeles, who came out and won the Irish Derby this year and Derby aspirations are on the agenda for Tennessee Stud.

"Dylan [Browne McMonagle] gave him a fantastic ride. He said he was really struggling on that ground and never felt comfortable at any stage. I think it's quite heavy there. It's testament to his attitude he was able to fight and fight and still win at the line,” said Joseph O’Brien.

"He's very big and I expect him to be better as a three-year-old. He'll have a break and will be trained now with the Derby at Epsom being his target. He could run in one or two trial races."

Raced by the Coolmore partners, Tennessee Stud has two wins and two placings from four starts. He was bred by Anne Marie O’Brien and is the first stakes-winner among five winners from well bred Sadler’s Wells mare In My Dreams, who is a half-sister to 2002 European Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar.

Twain and Tennesse Stud bring Wootton Bassett’s lifetime tally of stakes-winners to 56 with 12 Group I winners.

His current crop of Northern Hemisphere bred two year-olds has so far produced 36 winners that include 13 stakes-winners (three G1) and seven stakes-placed horses.

He is in Australia this spring covering at a fee of $192,500.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sydney 2YO Wednesday - High Prices and 1st Season Sires
The two year-old race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday is an interesting, and seemingly open, one which sees the second highest priced Farnan yearling of 2024 entered, along with the third highest priced I Am Invincible along with several other first season sire debutants.
OTI Racing Acquire Oaks Prospect
Australian syndicator OTI Racing have added a $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender to their New Zealand racing arsenal after securing promising filly Twisted Love last week.
Racing Australia Invests In Study Into Early Detection Of Injury Risk
Racing Australia’s Research and Development Fund today announced in conjunction with the Equine Genetics Research Centre (EGRC) and Telemedvet, a combined investment of over $400,000 into a 12-month project to perform a cross-sectional study of a serum biomarker in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries.
Yulong Acquire Australian Guineas Favourite
Yulong have announced they have acquired ruling Australian Guineas favourite Angel Capital.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
There were six juvenile heats at the Rosehill barrier trials on Tuesday with a first look at two impressive youngsters by I Am Invincible a highlight along with another Farnan youngster confirming his talent.
G1 Progeny Among Early Entries For Inglis Weanling Sales Series
Amongst the highlights of the 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series is sure to be the draft of Dorrington Farm-bred weanlings – which will be offered in conjunction with Noorilim Park – at the Australian Weanling Sale on May 5-6.
Latest Golden Slipper Order Of Entry
The latest Golden Slipper order of entry has been released by Racing NSW with Farnan's Inglis Golden Gift winner North England sitting at the top, while one of the highest earning youngsters in the country has nothing to show for it.
Entries Open For 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series
The 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series – the most lucrative weanling sales series in the Southern Hemisphere – is now open for entries.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday February 18
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Fierce Impact 2YO Aiming For Stakes Racing After Riccarton
Former champion jockey David Walsh scored his first training success in more than two decades when Leah Hemi saluted aboard Zelia at Riccarton last month, and the local horseman is hoping the same combination can put in a repeat performance at the Christchurch track on Wednesday.