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Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale - First Season Sires
Almanzor (2013)
Wootton Bassett - Darkova by Maria's Mon
Standing at: Cambridge Stud, NZ
2018 fee: NZ$30,000
Highest Timeform rating: 132
Lots catalogued: Four
Regarded as one of the most exciting shuttlers to land in New Zealand in the past few years, three-time Group 1 winner Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) stood his first season at Cambridge Stud for a fee of NZ$30,000 where he covered 140 mares.
Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, he won his first three career starts culminating in a victory in the Grand Criterium de Bordeaux (Listed, 1600m), before finishing seventh in the Criterium International (Gr 1, 7f) on his final start as a two-year-old.
But it was during his Classic year the son of Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) shone, kicking off his five start unbeaten streak in the Prix de Guiche (Gr 3, 1800m), before taking out the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m).
After 71 days off the track made his reappearance in the Autumn when landing the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr 2, 2000m) after which the colt was sent to Leopardstown to contest the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) and produced a herculean performance to beat star mares Found (Galileo) and Minding (Galileo).
Almanzor’s third and final victory at elite level when he came beat Found again in the Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) at Ascot, after which he was crowned Europe’s champion three-year-old colt.
Almanzor is out of the unraced Maria’s Mon (Wavering Monarch) and he is a three-quarters brother to Guildsman (Wootton Bassett), with him being out of Listed winner Darkara (Halling).
Further back the stallion hails from the same family as three-time Group 1 scorer Darjina (Zamindar) and Group 3 scorer Darbuzan (Zamindar).
The stallion had 53 yearlings sell in the northern hemisphere for an aggregate of £4,812,968 at an average of £90,810, with his top colt selling for €280,000, while his top-priced filly realised €260,000.