Leading stallion Wootton Bassett dies aged 17

A renowned stallion who sired several of Europe’s biggest race winners passed away at the age of 17.

Wootton Bassett’s stud fee had increased to 385, 000 Australian dollars (£187, 000) from the previous record.

Owners Coolmore reported that he passed away on Tuesday from pneumonia.

The Wootton Bassett’s children, including multiple Group One winners, Irish St Leger winners Al Riffa, and Camille Pissarro, French Derby champion, have won numerous big victories this season alone.

As a two-year-old, Wootton Bassett, who was trained by Richard Fahey, won all five races before retiring for a breeding career after losing all four of them the following year.

Almanzor, who won the 2016 French Derby and Irish Champion Stakes at Ascot in Frankie Dettori’s final ride, and King Of Steel, who finished second in the 2023 Derby.

Wootton Bassett died from complications brought on by the horse’s oesophagus, which is an obstruction that transports food from the mouth to the stomach.

One of the greatest sires in the world, Wootton Bassett, passed away peacefully at Coolmore Australia today after suffering from choke and then developing an acute pneumonia that quickly deteriorated, according to the stud business.