COOLMORE'S love affair with Wootton Bassett and his progeny deepened again at Deauville on Sunday when M.V. Magnier, in partnership with Peter Brant, paid €2.3 million for a yearling colt by the sire.

Wootton Bassett himself had a modest pedigree and initially retired to stand in France at a fee of just €6,000, which quickly dropped to €4,000 before his first foals hit the racecourse. He proved to be a sensation at stud - European champion Almanzor was in his first crop - and his fee rose to €40,000 by 2020. It was then that Coolmore stepped in to buy him and his fee has continued to rise, reaching €300,000 this year.

Coolmore has already enjoyed more success with Wootton Bassett than any other racing operation. Among the Group 1 winners by the sire to have raced for Aidan O'Brien are Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Unquestionable, Twain and Whirl.

Now the global racing and breeding operation will be hoping it has found another star in the €2.3 million colt bought on Sunday evening by M.V. Magnier at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. Amo Racing was reportedly the underbidder.

The colt is out of High Celebrity, a mare by Invincible Spirit who won a Group 3 race as a two-year-old at Chantilly in 2014 for trainer André Fabre. From six runners to date, she has bred two blacktype winners, including Highbury (by Galileo) who finished second to Illinois in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot last year.

Like the €2.3 million colt, Highbury was bred by Jean Philippe Dubois and the breeder retained a share in Highbury after he sold him to Coolmore for €650,000 at this sale in 2022.

Godolphin also got in on the Wootton Bassett action on Sunday when paying €900,000 for another of his sons, this one consigned by Haras d'Etreham. The colt is out of Hidden Breeze, a mare by Dark Angel whose only previous foal (now a two-year-old) has yet to race.

By 8pm Irish time only one other yearling had broken seven figures. That was a Siyouni colt out of Group 1 winner Lightening Pearl, sold by Tweenhills to an online buyer identified only as American Racing Corp for €1.25 million. Six of the dam's seven foals to race up to now have won, including Group 3 winner Lightening Quick.

Japanese buyers have traditionally played a big role at this sale. On Sunday trainer Yoshito Yahagi paid €500,000 for a colt by Frankel, the first foal out of Mangoustine, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches a few years ago.

Sunday's clearance rate was 85%, markedly higher than Saturday's 72%.

The sale concludes on Monday when some very strong prices are expected for the top lots. Part 2 (V2) takes place on Wednesday.

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