Wootton Bassett’s Wootton Stays Perfect in the Fontainebleau

[Wandering Eyes]

   Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was acquired by Godolphin from breeder Haras de Quetieville after plundering his Aug. 22 debut by six lengths going one mile at Deauville and backed up that promise with a similarly dominant performance in the Oct. 19 Listed Prix Isonomy back over that course and distance last time. Sent to the front after the initial strides of this sophomore return, he was shaken up at the quarter-mile marker and came under ever-increasing pressure as the tenderly handled Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War) persisted in forcing him to pull out all the stops inside the final eighth to register a career high in game fashion. “We had some minor niggles with him over the winter, but they all cleared in time and I’m delighted with that performance,” claimed trainer Alex Pantall. “He was on edge beforehand, but he behaved that way on debut and perhaps he was a little too fresh. Leading was not a problem as he settled well and Mickael [Barzalona] was patient from the front. He waited and waited until asking for Wootton’s main effort. There’s no doubt he has room for improvement and will come on a lot for the run, both physically and mentally. Faster ground will not be a problem so we will come back here for the [May 13 G1] Poule d’Essai des Poulains.” Jean-Claude Rouget was proud of the runner-up’s run and indicated a rematch was on the cards for the front two, adding, “Olmedo ran a great race. We’ve had a bad winter and I’ve been unable to prepare my team as I’d have liked so that run was most encouraging. I think the first and second are two very good horses, finishing clear of the remainder. We’ll be back in the Poulains hoping to reverse the result and I don’t think there is anything to compete with these two.”
   Wootton is the leading performer produced by G3 Prix du Calvados placegetter American Nizzy (Fr) (American Post {GB}) and he is a half-brother to the 2-year-old colt Hot Summer (Fr) (Sommerabend {GB}) and the yearling colt Magic Baron (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}). American Nizzy is a granddaughter of Listed Prix Isola Bella victress Quittance (Riverman), who in turn is out of a winning half-sister to GISP GII Del Mar Invitational Oaks heroine Suivi (Diesis {GB}).

Sunday, Longchamp, France
PRIX DE FONTAINEBLEAU-G3, €80,000, LCP, 4-15, 3yo, c, 8fT, 1:47.33, hy.
1–WOOTTON (FR), 128, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: American Nizzy (Fr) (GSP-Fr, $107,781), by American Post (GB)
2nd Dam: Quietude, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Quittance, by Riverman
O-Godolphin SNC; B-Ecurie Haras de Quetieville (FR); T-Henri-Alex Pantall; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €73,500. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Olmedo (Fr), 128, c, 3, Declaration of War–Super Pie, by Pivotal (GB). (€100,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Antonio Caro & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Dream With Me Stable Inc (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €16,000.
3–Louis d’Or (Ire), 125, c, 3, Intello (Ger)–Soudanaise (Ire), by Peintre Celebre. (€27,000 Ylg ’16 AROCT). O-Camille Garnier; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (FR); T-Tony Castanheira. €12,000.
Margins: HD, 3HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.00, 1.60, 8.70.
Also Ran: Rostropovich (Ire), Mind Mapping. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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