Wootton Bassett colt on top at Goffs Premier opener

Wootton Bassett was back in the headlines on Tuesday when accounting for the £200,000 session-topping colt during day one of the Goffs UK Premier Sale in Doncaster.

Successful breeze-up vendor and prominent pre-trainer Robson Aguiar struck the online winning bid for the colt, who headed trade on a solid opening day that featured £9,115,000 in turnover and an average of £49,271.

Of course, Aguiar has reason to look fondly upon the stock of Wootton Bassett having purchased his high-class son, Amo Racing’s Phoenix Stakes winner Bucanero Fuerte, as a yearling last year.

“He really reminded me of Bucanero Fuerte when I bought him as a yearling,” said Aguiar. “He’s got a good loose walk, he’s very athletic and has a good pedigree. If he works out I think he could be another Bucanero Fuerte. I see a lot of value in this horse at that price.”

Bred by the Keswick family’s Rockcliffe Stud, the colt boasted one of the best pedigrees of the day as a half-brother to last year’s Flying Childers Stakes winner Trillium in addition to the stakes-placed pair Mohawk King and American Kestrel. They are out of Marsh Hawk, another Rockcliffe homebred who was Group 3-placed for her breeder.

“We’re delighted with the price,” said Ed Sackville, bloodstock adviser to the Keswick family. “Rockcliffe have had a lot of luck selling at this sale. They sold a £200,000 horse here last year [Mai Dubai], who won yesterday.

“Goffs always do a great job and we thought this horse was perfect for this sale and a standout on pedigree. Best of luck to the purchaser, who has a fantastic record with the stallion.”

Bizakov returns to the well

On the lookout for a two-year-old with the potential to perform well in the Prix Morny, Nurlan Bizakov took a punt on the Charlie Johnston-trained Sacred Angel and was rewarded when the filly not only captured the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot but also ran fourth in the Morny itself – newly sponsored by Bizakov’s Sumbe this year. 

Thus it was no surprise to see Bizakov return to the well on Tuesday, going to £175,000 through Johnston for her sister, another Dark Angel filly bred by Yeomanstown Stud out of the Listed-winning Sacred Aspect.

“There are similarities between the two,” said Johnston. “She has Sacred Angel’s athleticism though she’s a little bit more backward than Sacred Angel was at this time of the year. We’ll get her home and broken and then turn her away. Let’s hope lightning can strike twice as we were keen to get the sister as well.”

Sacred Angel cost £52,000 at this sale last year and changed hands again to Bizakov following a smart win at Newmarket’s July meeting. 

“Mr Bizakov’s Sumbe sponsored the Prix Morny this year and were looking for something capable of running in it,” said Johnston. “Could I have said to him at that point that I thought she was going to hold her own in Group 1 company? No, but we were already thinking that her next start was going to be in the Princess Margaret. It was a bit of a punt on their behalf but it’s one that’s worked out fantastically well. We were delighted with her run in the Morny and it’s all systems go now for the Cheveley Park Stakes.”

One of the finest pinhook results of the day came courtesy of a first-crop daughter of Earthlight, for whom Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald went to £160,000. The filly, whose dam Nozhar is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and stakes producer Pasar Silbano, was purchased by her vendor Jamie Railton for 62,000gns as a Tattersalls December foal.

Plans call for her to join Ed Walker on behalf of P K Siu.

Her sale provided the highlight of a good day for her young sire Earthlight, whose five to go through the ring sold for an average of £84,600.

SackvilleDonald also signed at £180,000 for a son of leading first-crop sire Blue Point from Longview Stud. Bred by Highview Stud, the colt is the second foal out of the Listed-placed So Hi Society, whose first foal Bourgeoisie has been placed several times this season for Richard Hannon.

The sale of Jamie Railton’s Earthlight filly was matched by the sole Sea The Stars offering catalogued, a colt out of the Frankel mare Tiger Eye, who is set to join Richard Hughes after being knocked down to the trainer out of the Barton Stud draft. He had been sourced for 75,000gns as a foal by Gestut Tubingen. 

The sale continues tomorrow.