During a high octane night of trade at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale Coolmore boss Tom Magnier was active at the top of the market purchasing three stunning mares in Amelia’s Jewel, Tiz Invincible and Estriella and also announced the fee for Wootton Bassett (GB).
The reigning Champion European 2YO Sire, Wootton Bassett will be back in Australia this spring at the record breaking fee of $350,000 plus GST.
It’s the highest fee ever set on a sire in Australia and reflects the regard in which he is held in the Northern Hemisphere.
Speaking early in the evening after purchasing Tiz Invincible, Magnier made the announcement.
“She's a very good-looking mare, and we’ll be sending her to Wootton Bassett,” he said.
“Obviously, I don't have to explain Wootton Bassett. We're very fortunate to have a stallion like him.
“He's standing at $350,000 this year. We're hopeful now to send our best mares to him and there's been some great inquiries from the best mare owners in the country, so we are locking into the stallion now and we'll hope for a bit of luck.”
Wootton Bassett has covered 200 plus mare books in Ireland in his past three seasons so has a wealth of talent coming through in the Northern Hemisphere that may well see him challenge for the title of Champion European Sire.
While Australians have had access to champion sires such as Galileo, Dubawi and Invincible Spirit early in their stud careers we have never had a stallion of that magnitude come to Australia at the height of his powers.
