Godolphin swoop for exciting French maiden winner Wootton

Son of Wootton Bassett bolted up by six lengths on Deauville debut

Sheikh Mohammed: his Godolphin operation has an exciting new recruitCredit: Edward Whitaker

Wootton went into a thousand and one notebooks when he cruised to a wide-margin victory on debut at Deauville last month and it transpires the once-raced colt turned heads at Godolphin too, as Sheikh Mohammed's operation has moved to buy him.

Trained by Henri-Alex Pantall for owner-breeder Ecurie Haras de Quetieville, Wootton won a mile contest for unraced juvenile colts by six lengths from the Andre Fabre-trained colt Act Of God.

Wootton will remain with Pantall, a longstanding trainer for Sheikh Mohammed.

Lisa-Jane Graffard, Godolphin's representative in France, told Jour de Galop: “We have bought him but we won't see him in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, in which he is entered. He will run again this year, but it would be a little too difficult to take on a Group 1 on only his second start.”

Wootton hails from the third crop of Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Wootton Bassett, who found fame last year as the sire of European champion Almanzor. He is out of the Group 3-placed American Post mare American Nizzy.

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Martin StevensBloodstock journalist

Published on 22 September 2017inInternational

Last updated 21:18, 22 September 2017

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