Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday November 8

Two valuable Inglis sponsored races for the babies on Saturday, with the $500,000 Inglis Banner on a superb Champions Day at Flemington and the $1,000,000 Group III Inglis Golden Gift at Rosehill.

Much excitement surrounds the first Australian crop of Coolmore Stud's Wootton Bassett (GB).

The European sire sensation will have his first runner when Michael Wayne and John Hawkes send out West of Swindon in the Inglis Golden Gift at Rosehill.

Consigned by Widden Stud to the 2024 Magic Millions, West of Swindon was a $350,000 purchase for Hawkes Racing. His breeder Qatar Bloodstock, has retained a share and will sport their claret with gold braid silks.

West Of Swindon a $350,000 Magic Millions yearling

The running of the Victorian Oaks on Thursday evoked memories of the 1983 VRC Oaks won by West Of Swindon's fourth dam Taj Eclipse.

Trained by Bart Cummings and ridden by champion apprentice Darren Gauci, the daughter of Cummings' beloved Taj Rossi prevailed in a titanic struggle with Mapperley Heights.

Ironically, Mapperley Heights was part-owned by Robert Sangster, who sold Taj Eclipse's dam, Glad One (Milesian), to Bart Cummings a decade earlier for about $30,000.

Advertisement

Placed in the Irish Oaks and a half-sister to Irish Oaks winner Merry Mate, Cummings later sold Glad One to Taj Eclipse's owner-breeder, Vic Peters.

Taj Eclipse's unraced daughter Ameerat-Blaadi (Kenmare) is the dam of the top-class Danewin mare Dane Belltar.

The Group III SAJC Auraria Stakes winner, Dane Belltar, came close to emulating her granddam when second to the outstanding Special Harmony in the VRC Oaks.

Trained by Leon MacDonald Dane Belltar, also placed in the SAJC Australasian Oaks, South Australian Oaks, VRC Wakeful Stakes, SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes, and Birthday Cup.

As good as she was on the track, Dane Belltar exceeded that at stud, producing the MRC Caulfield Cup, VRC Makybe Diva Stakes, and MRC Caulfield Stakes winner Fawkner (Reset), the MRC Herbert Power Stakes, SAJC Adelaide Cup, and MRC Zipping Classic winner Tanby (Galileo), and the Group II-placed Viking Star (Red Ransom).

On October 6 2012, all three put on an exhibition. Viking Star took the opener at Morphettville, Tanby won the Bart Cummings Stakes at Flemington, and Fawkner rounded the meeting off with success in the Tavern Stakes.

Fife failed to emulate her illustrious siblings. Purchased by David Redvers for $650,000 from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the daughter of Starcraft won a Geelong maiden and placed five times (3 metro) from 12 starts.

Stonehouse Thoroughbreds shelled out $60,000 for Fife, carrying a So You Think filly at the National Broodmare Sale. She was covered by Toronado (IRE) last spring.

Fife has had two fillies by Zoustar that have not seen the track.

West of Swindon displayed promise when winning his only barrier trial at Warwick Farm on October 29.

 

Visit the profile page for Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Dual G1 Winner Magic Time Purchased by Yulong
The Grahame Begg trained Hellbent mare Magic Time will run in new colours on Saturday in the $500,000 Group II ATC Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) with breaking news on Friday confirming her sale to Yulong.
Hello Youmzain Earns a Fee Increase
Currently at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, promising young shuttle sire Hello Youmzain (FR) has been given a fee increase back in France by Haras D’Etreham and will stand at €40,000 in 2025 up from €22,500.
Tara Talks Racing - Bonus Episode- Cup Week Intrigue
The Melbourne Cup, a great Australian result. Could you have found the winner? We go back to 1903 for guidance. The Oaks wash up, USA mares - have you bought one this week?
Newgate Bred and Sold Blueblood Wins Ladies Day Cup
The $200,000 Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on Oaks Day produced another stakes win for Deep Field gelding Rustic Steel, who has now won over $2million in prizemoney.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 7
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
There has been a tsunami of quality racing in the past week and there has also been plenty of action at barrier trials, so for those interested in what first season sires have juveniles in work and preparing to race this is a must read with 10 first season sires having trial runners since the start of November.
2YO Sale Mail – First Season Sires Poised for Action
Some lucrative juvenile races will be run on Saturday with the $500,000 VRC Inglis Banner (1000m) at Flemington and the $1million ATC Golden Gift (1000m) at Rosehill adding plenty of interest to an action packed day.
Light Infantry Man Snaps a 158 Week Drought in Chester Manifold Stakes
Following his long list of near misses in Europe, including seconds in the Group I Prix D'ispahan, Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, and thirds in the Group 1  Queen Anne Stakes, and Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, Light Infantry Man (FR) added Thursday's Listed Channel 9 Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington to his success in the 2021 Group III Horris Hill Stake
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Three heats for juveniles run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning featured an $825,000 I Am Invincible filly and two youngsters that have won previously including a colt that bolted in by 14 lengths!
VRC Oaks Success for Treasurethe Moment - First G1 Winner Alabama Express
Yulong’s Treasurethe Moment stamped herself the benchmark for 3-year-old fillies with a dominant win in the $1,000,000 Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday to become the 39th filly to win the Wakeful Stakes – Oaks double.