THE news came in August 2020 that Coolmore had added Wootton Bassett to their ranks, having just completed his ninth season at Haras d’Etreham. He had sired the 2016 champion three-year-old Almanzor in his first crop, but Coolmore realised his potential, and their investment was totally justified.

Now comes the sad, indeed devastating, news that Coolmore’s most expensive sire has died in Australia, where he was set to command a record fee for down under.