Wootton Bassett fever hit Karaka early on the first day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Jan. 26 with two colts by the sire selling for a combined figure of NZ$1,325,000 (US$756,770, NZ$1=US$0.57).
The rush to buy the Coolmore super shuttler's stock began when trainer Michael Freedman teamed up with Tom Magnier and Mick Wallace to buy a colt by the sire for a session-topping NZ$725,000 (US$414,082).
Bred by Nearco Stud and offered by Curraghmore, the colt was the sixth lot through the ring and is out of the stakes-placed winner Il Affare, who is herself a half sister to Hong Kong group 3 scorer Full Of Beauty, with the pair both being out of dual stakes-winner Pennachio.
"He was a lovely athletic type," Freedman said. "We liked him when I saw him when I got here a couple of days ago and we went and re-looked at him this morning. I was keen to try and buy him and was happy to partner up with Coolmore to buy him."
On the new partnership with Coolmore, Freedman said: "Tom (Magnier) and I have been talking for a while about trying to team up on a colt and he liked the horse and it's by one of their stallions. Michael Wallace comes from America and does all my shortlisting for me and we've been working together for 20 odd years now—it's a partnership that seems to work alright."
Wootton Bassett has made a ferocious start with his first runners in the southern hemisphere siring three winners from eight starters, including the talented stakes-placed Gallo Nero and Jan. 18 debut victor Wodeton.
Curraghmore enjoyed a brilliant day, selling all six of their offerings for NZ$2.14 million (US$1,222,255). The Wootton Bassett colt was their highlight result.
"He is a quality, very athletic colt from a well-performed and well-bred young mare and was identified very early in the week by a number of good judges," said Gordon Cunningham. "When you put Wootton Bassett into the equation he had every reason to be popular. Anything is possible when they have those credentials."
Later in the afternoon, Mick Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jr, got his hands on a colt by Wootton Bassett, paying Windsor Park Stud NZ$600,000 (US$342,688) for the youngster.
"I think he (Wootton Bassett) is an amazing stallion," Price said. "We watched the whole story on him—the guy (Bobby O'Ryan) buys him for $200,000 and as a 12-year-old Coolmore buy him for $50 million. It can only be one thing—because his stock goes well."
Price's interest in the colt was elevated given the fact his group 3 winner Ayrton featured further down the page, and he believes his purchase has the potential for a future career at stud.
Windsor Park's Steve Till told ANZ Bloodstock News that the interest in the colt was sky-high, so he expected him to be well-received.
"The colt has a nice temperament, is correct, has great balance and looked the part, all the ingredients necessary," Till said. "He is by a stallion who is firing everywhere, so all the stars aligned."
All four lots offered on the first day of the sale by Wootton Bassett sold, with David Ellis paying Landsdowne Park NZ$320,000 (US$182,767) for a filly by the sire, while another of his daughters realized NZ$340,000 (US$194,190).
