Wootton Bassett: Leading Coolmore sire dies aged 17

A leading stallion who sired several of Europe’s biggest race winners has died aged 17.

Wootton Bassett’s stud fee had climbed to an Australian record of 385,000 Australian dollars (£187,000).

Owners Coolmore said he died on Tuesday from pneumonia.

This season alone, the offspring of Wootton Bassett to have claimed big victories include multiple Group One-winning filly Whirl, Irish St Leger victor Al Riffa and Camille Pissarro, winner of the French Derby.

Wootton Bassett, trained by Richard Fahey, was unbeaten in all five races as a two-year-old before being retired for a breeding career after losing all four contests the following season.

His other successful sons have included 2016 French Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner Almanzor and 2023 Derby runner-up King Of Steel, who won the Champion Stakes at Ascot in Frankie Dettori’s final ride in Britain.

Coolmore Australia said Wootton Bassett died after complication following ‘choke’ – an obstruction to the horse’s oesophagus, the tube which carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

“Wootton Bassett, one of the world’s great sires, has sadly passed away today at Coolmore Australia having suffered from choke and subsequently developing an acute pneumonia which deteriorated rapidly,” said the stud business.

“Despite round-the-clock care from a dedicated team of vets, overseen by Dr Nathan Slovis from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky, he was unable to be saved.”