International success Wootton Bassett dies from complications of choke at age 17

Wootton Bassett, a standout international sire who was in the midst of growing success for the international Coolmore group has died at age 17.

Wootton Bassett was standing his shuttle season at Coolmore Australia when he suffered an episode of choke, when food becomes lodged in a horse’s esophagus. He developed pneumonia, a common complication of choke, as the horse’s anatomy means lodged food can easily be aspirated.

Coolmore said in a statement that the stallion was under the care of a team of vets, overseen by Dr. Nathan Slovis of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky, but his condition “deteriorated rapidly” and he was “unable to be saved.”

Wootton Bassett, by Iffraaj, was unbeaten in five starts as a juvenile, highlighted by a victory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Winless the following year, he was retired to Haras d’Etreham in Normandy for the 2012 season.

He earned notice with several prominent performers from his French-conceived crops, including Almanzor, who earned more than $3 million while scoring Group 1 victories in the French Derby and Irish and English Champion Stakes; and classic-placed King of Steel, another English Champion winner.

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Wootton Bassett’s daughter Audarya, a Group 1 winner in France, came to the U.S. to win the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, while Unquestionable won the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Wootton Bassett was purchased by Coolmore and moved to its Irish headquarters for the 2021 season. He also shuttled to its Australian farm.

Wootton Bassett proved a valuable outcross for the operation's preponderance of mares by its late titan Galileo, and quickly found success with the mare base, as his first crop of Irish-conceived juveniles last year was superlative. The crop included his third career Breeders’ Cup winner in Henri Matisse, who was a two-time Group 2 winner in Ireland before winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and also won the French 2000 Guineas at 3, as well as Group 1 winners Camille Pissarro, Tennessee Stud, and Twain. Sahlan is a Group 1 winner from the crop this year at age 3.

Wootton Bassett's second crop of Irish-born juveniles includes group stakes winners Albert Einstein, Beautify, Composing, Constitution River, Nighttime, and Puerto Rico.

In Australia, his first crop is highlighted by Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton.

Overall, Wootton Bassett is the sire of 52 graded/group stakes winners worldwide.

"Coolmore’s valued clients have three more crops in the pipeline, the first of which will come under the hammer at the yearling sales in the weeks ahead," Coolmore's Tuesday statement said.

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