Prix de l'Abbaye hero Wooded retires to Haras de Bouquetot

This month's Prix de l’Abbaye winner Wooded has been retired to stand at Haras de Bouquetot in France.

An Al Shaqab Racing purchase from Arqana, the Wootton Bassett colt had a successful time at two and three with trainer Francis Graffard, breaking his maiden at Deauville and placing in two Group races during 2019.

Wooded impressed on his seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Prix Texanita and was also fourth in the Prix Jean Prat before dropping back in distance.

He bowed out on Arc day as a very rare French-trained three-year-old winner of the showcase sprint.

Graffard said: "Wooded stood out from the day he arrived for his good looks and ability and he was very sound, never missing a day’s work.

"In the Group 3 Prix Texanita he announced himself as a potential superstar and we were confident he would go close in the Commonwealth Cup. The difficulties of travelling this year made it impossible for him to run.

"As a racehorse he had so many qualities, class, courage and speed and he fully deserved his Group 1 win this year."

Al Shaqab general manager Khalifa Al Attiya added: "Wooded has been a very special racehorse to us at Al Shaqab, winning such a prestigious sprint race as the Prix de l’Abbaye at three years old and against much more experienced horses.

"He will now be starting a new exciting career at Haras de Bouquetot, and we feel confident that such a standout sprinter who performed at the highest level with such consistency at two and three will be very well received by the breeders."

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