Two for Coolmore’s new stallion Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) - who was recently purchased by Coolmore Stud - sired his second Group 1 winner and 15th stakes winner as the James Fanshawe-trained Audarya (4 m ex Green Bananas by Green Tune) proved too hard to pass in the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr 1, 2000m) at Deauville on Sunday.
It was a huge step in class for the four-year-old mare, who had failed to worry the judge her three starts in Listed company, but she came into the Group 1 off the back of victory in the at Newcastle on August 2.
Ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, the mare refused to lie down when tackled in the closing stages by Ambition (Dubawi), eventually beating her by a neck. Romanciere (Dansili) finished four lengths away in third.
Victory earned Fanshawe his third success in the contest, following wins with Ribbons (Manduro) (2014) and Speedy Boarding (Shamardal) (2016), making him the most successful trainer of the Group 1.
Audarya was purchased by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for €125,000 at the 2017 Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale and she is one of two winners out of four-time winning mare Green Bananas (Green Tune).
The mare is first stakes scorer in three generations of her family, while her fourth dam is Jimka (Jim French), who in turn produced Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Jim And Tonic (Double Bed) and she is also the grandam of Beverly D Stakes (Gr 1, 9.5f) winner Mauralakana (Muhtathir) and Listed Petit Calva (Desert King), who in turn produced Listed winner Rosay (Raven’s Pass).
Wootton Bassett stood at Haras d'Etreham for nine seasons before being purchased by the global powerhouse and his other Group 1 winner is Almanzor, who shuttles to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand and he will stand the upcoming breeding season for a fee of NZ$30,000 (plus GST).
A third Darley Prix Jean Romanet for @james_fanshawe as Audarya is too good at @fgdeauville and wins impressively under Ioritz Mendizabal... pic.twitter.com/U6Tnw1IBKu
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 23, 2020
