For much of the 21st century, Galileo and Dubawi have towered over the British and Irish breeding scene, with their progeny racking up a phenomenal number of Group 1 successes at home and abroad. However, nothing can last forever and with Dubawi now 22 years old and Galileo having passed away at 23 in 2021, there may soon be room at the top for a new star to emerge.
Dubawi’s sons Makfi, Too Darn Hot and Ghaiyyath are obvious contenders to take up the baton for Godolphin, whilst Nathaniel, Australia, New Approach, and, of course, the mighty Frankel are amongst those flying the flag for the Northern Dancer-Sadler’s Wells-Galileo line. However, if the evidence of recent seasons is any guide, a new stallion may be in line to challenge the established order, and he goes by the name of Wootton Bassett.
Group 1 Winner at the Track
Sired by the three-time Group 2 winner Iffraaj and out of the Listed-placed mare Balladonia, Wootton Bassett boasts a promising pedigree, but no more than that. However, he appeared to be a good deal more than the sum of his parts in a perfect two-year-old campaign in 2010 – five starts yielded five wins, culminating in an impressive Group 1 success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp.
Wootton Bassett’s 2-Year-Old Campaign
| Date | Race | Position | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19/6/2010 | Maiden Stakes | 1st | £3,238 |
| 15/7/2010 | Novice Stakes | 1st | £3,238 |
| 19/8/2010 | Premier Yearling Stakes | 1st | £147,720 |
| 9/9/2010 | 2-Y-O Stakes | 1st | £193,267 |
| 3/10/2010 | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | 1st | £176,982 |
Given that juvenile record, much was expected of the Richard Fahey colt heading into his Classic campaign. Unfortunately for connections, Wootton Bassett was the definition of a precocious sort who failed to progress at three. In four Group 1 outings, he managed no better than a pair of well-beaten fifth-place finishes in the Poule D’Essai Des Poulains and Prix Maurice De Gheest. With his reputation on the track in decline, Wootton Bassett was packed off for a career at stud at the age of four.
Wootton Bassett’s 3-Year-Old Campaign
| Date | Race | Position | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/5/2011 | Poule D’Essai Des Poulains | 5th | £11,095 |
| 14/6/2011 | St James’s Palace Stakes | 7th | £0 |
| 7/8/2011 | Prix Maurice De Gheest | 5th | £6,164 |
| 3/9/2011 | Sprint Cup | 13th | £0 |
Rapid Rise in Stud Fee
Initially taking up residence at the Haras d’Etreham Stud in France, Wootton Bassett’s fee was set at a relatively low €6,000 – dropping to a low of €4,000 in 2014 and 2015 before returning to €6,000 in 2016.
However, things began to change quickly when his runners hit the track for the first time in 2015. Fast forward to 2024, and Wootton Bassett’s Stud fee sits at a handsome £200,000 – over 33 times his initial value. The biggest jump in that fee came in 2021 when the emerging force on the breeding scene was snapped up by Coolmore and relocated to County Tipperary.
In the same year that Coolmore lost the horse upon whom much of their success was built, they may have gained a stallion to at least take up some of the flak. As no relation to Galileo, Wootton Bassett is particularly suitable to pair with Coolmore’s huge squadron of Galileo mares and, on the early evidence, this combination may be seen in full stride in Group 1 contests in the years to come.
The Stars Behind the Increase
Of course, a stallion isn’t able to demand such a sum for his services without a proven record of producing top-class performers and, in the case of Wootton Bassett, the following trio did more than most to boost his skyrocketing reputation.
- Almanzor – It’s fair to say Wootton Bassett exploded out of the starting stalls as a sire. His first crop numbered only 23, but included in that tally was European Champion Almanzor, who landed the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Champion Stakes, and Champion Stakes. With those three victories coming as a three-year-old, doubts as to whether Wootton Bassett could sire anything other than precocious sorts began to be dispelled
- King Of Steel – This Roger Varian runner couldn’t quite replicate the feats of Almanzor, but he wasn’t too far off in finishing a gallant second at 66/1 in the Derby before landing a second Champion Stakes for his sire at Ascot in 2023
- Al Riffa – Landing the Group 1 National Stakes in 2022, this Joseph O’Brien inmate endured a blank 2023 but bounced back in 2024 with a second top-level success in the Grosser Preis von Berlin
Three-Year-Olds to Watch in 2025
With his burgeoning reputation and mounting Group 1 victories, Wootton Bassett would appear to be a sire well worth following in the coming years. Looking ahead to 2025, the following runners rank amongst his most intriguing contenders moving into their Classic campaigns.
Twain
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Dam – Wading (Montjeu)
Aidan O’Brien’s youngsters often need the experience on debut. As such, Twain caused many to sit up and take notice when romping home by 6l in his maiden event at the Curragh. Proving that to be no fluke, he returned to the track eight days later to land the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. Twain is now a best price of 16/1 for the 2025 edition of the 2000 Guineas.
Tennessee Stud
- Trainer – Joseph O’Brien
- Dam – In My Dreams (Sadler’s Wells)
Breaking his duck at the second time of asking in a Tipperary Maiden, Tennessee Stud then went down by just ¾l to subsequent Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes. Next stop, Saint-Cloud and what proved to be a golden afternoon for Wootton Bassett, as around 30 minutes before Twain’s Criterium International victory, Tennessee Stud grabbed a Group 1 of his own in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Likely to be targeted at the Derby, he’s a best price 40/1 for the Epsom Classic.
Green Impact
- Trainer – Jessica Harrington
- Dam – Emerald Green (Galileo)
Going down by just a neck on debut in a 7f Maiden contest, Green Impact enjoyed the step up to 1m when scoring for the first time at Leopardstown, with Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix back in second. Stepped up in class for the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, he accounted for that same rival to finish his season on a high. With Delacroix since winning the Autumn Stakes and losing out by a nose in the Futurity Trophy, the form looks solid for a horse expected to improve as he fills into his considerable frame as a three-year-old. At around 40/1 for the 2000 Guineas and 50/1 for the Derby, he’s an interesting outsider at this early stage.