FRA: Tin Horse Rattles Home To Land Poulains

Monday, 16 May 2011: Wootoon Bassett proved unable to overcome his high draw in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains on Sunday when he faded inside the final furlong to finish fifth behind 83-1o shot Tin Horse

Despite facing a hugely unfavourable double-figure berth, Wootton Bassett was sent off a strong 2-1 favourite to extend his unbeaten record to six under Paul Hanagan in the French version of the 2,000 Guineas.


Smartly away, the Richard Fahey-trained colt attempted to make all but used up far too much energy crossing over to the rail to get the lead.

He was a spent force in the closing stages, swamped by home-trained rivals, headed by Tin Horse, carrying the well-known colours of the Marquesa de Moratalla.

Fahey said: "We decided to lead after seeing the 1,000 Guineas result when the first four were the same throughout."

Looking ahead, he added: "I'd like to get home and make sure he's okay."

As their representative forfeited his unbeaten record, it can surely have come as little comfort to the Wootton Bassett team thathe had Tin Horse two and half lengths back in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over 7f at the same venue on Arc day in October last year.

The son of Sakhee was drawn one in a field of 15 under four-time French champion Thierry Jarnet.

He hadn't won a race for nearly 12 months before scoring by two lengths over 35-1 chance Havane Smoker, who had cruised up to take over from Wootton Bassett in the Longchamp straight before being grabbed by the winner.

A crack at Royal Ascot - and Frankel - is now on the agenda for Tin Horse, according to the owner's racing manager Giles Forien. "The trainer is seriously thinking about the St James's Palace Stakes," he said.

Two more longshots, Venomous and Temps Au Temps, came third and fourth in a race where Wootton Bassett actually did best of the fancied runners, despite the disappointing outcome.

Khalid Abdullah's Glaswegian was only eighth, while the Godolphin pair faded badly. Andre Fabre's Modern History had chased the pace before dropping out and beating just two home, including the Mahmood Al Zarooni runner Midsummer Fair.