Wootton Bassett's star continues ever in the ascendancy as Coolmore's new recruit claimed a first graded win in the United States Sept.16.
Guildsman is from the stallion's 3-year-old crop from Haras d'Etreham and was first sold to Church Farm from breeder Haras de Saint Par for €67,000 at Arqana's October Sale.
He was turned around as a breeze-up prospect and sent back to Arqana last year, from where David Redvers bought him for a much-improved €125,000 and sent him to Archie Watson's yard for Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing.
Guildsman bolted up on his debut at Goodwood and was not beaten far when third behind Arizona in the Coventry Stakes (G2), achieving another group placing for the stable in Ireland later in the season.
He was bought back at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale and was instead sent stateside to the shrewd Cork-born Brendan Walsh at 3, starting off in allowance company and opening his U.S. account Aug. 10 in a black-type stakes race at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania.
Walsh upgraded him to grade 3 level in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs, the European-flavored turf track near Tennessee, and he closed late under Tyler Gaffalione to pip Island Commish in the shadow of the post.
The owner was represented at Kentucky Downs by Fergus Galvin, who told local track reporters: "Sheikh Fahad was watching closely at home in England. He was thrilled. He had a big couple of weeks with (grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner) Shedaresthedevil.
"Brendan has done a great job with the horse. He had it mapped out from a few months ago, but Sheikh Fahad has gotten a massive thrill out of him. He's always shown a lot of promise, this horse.
"He ran in some of the bigger 2-year-old races (in Britain). The distance, 6 1/2 furlongs, and the configuration of the track obviously played to his advantage. But it certainly made Sheikh Fahad a big fan of Kentucky Downs. He's already wanting to stock up the stable to point to the meeting next year."
Qatar Racing won the same race last year with Legends Of War, who had also begun life in Britain and is now set to be part of a new stallion roster in Dorset.
Guildsman became Wootton Bassett's eighth group winner of an impressive career, joining top-flight scorers Almanzor (to whom Guildsman's dam is related) and Audarya, as well as exciting juvenile Chindit on the scoresheet.
