Wootton Bassett’s Houquetot Takes Care of Business in Paris

[Wandering Eyes]

Christopher Head trainee Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Happen, by War Front) endured a first defeat in three career starts when runner-up in last month's G3 Prix Francois Boutin and bounced back with a game victory in Sunday's G3 Prix La Rochette at ParisLongchamp.

The 11-10 favourite, previously successful in two seven-furlong heats at Compiegne, broke smartly and raced in a prominent second from flagfall in this fourth start at the specialist distance. Stoked up with a quarter-mile remaining, he joined long-time leader Sir Tommy Cen (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) entering the final furlong and was ridden out to defeat Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and Revolutionnaire (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}) by 3/4-of-a-length and a head.

Pedigree Notes
Houquetot is the second of four foals and lone performer out of G3 Athasi Stakes victrix Happen (War Front), herself a half-sister to dual Group-winning G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup second Somehow (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), G2 Prix Kergorlay victor Alex My Boy (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and G3 Killavullan Stakes runner-up Sierra Blanca (Ire) (No Nay Never). The March-foaled dark bay's second dam is G1 Oaks, G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), whose descendants also include G1 Preis von Europa winner Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}). Houquetot is full to a yearling colt and a weanling colt.

 

Rochette (Gr3, 2ans, 1400m) à #parislongchamp

Houquetot (Wootton Bassett) renoue avec le succès en costaud. Après lutte, Heybetli (Showcasing) prend la deuxième place pic.twitter.com/Iie8p4b5R4

— France Galop (@francegalop) September 8, 2024

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