Fifth Group 1 winner for Wootton Bassett as Zellie dominates in Marcel Boussac

The rise and rise of Wootton Bassett continued at Longchamp on Sunday as Zellie became the Coolmore stallion's fifth Group 1 winner with a polished performance in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.

Bred by Charles Barel, the filly is from her sire's seventh crop, the second bred at a fee of €20,000 during the stallion's time at Haras d'Etreham, and joins other elite-level winners Almanzor, Audarya, Incarville and Wooded on Wootton Bassett's growing roll of honour.

The son of Iffraaj was in 13th place in the European sire standings going into Sunday's racing, and looks poised to maintain his upward trajectory in the coming years as his final two French-bred crops, which were conceived at a fee of €40,000, come online.

Moreover, it was recently revealed that Wootton Bassett received a particularly warm reception during his first season on duty at Coolmore, having covered 244 mares at a career-high fee of €100,000.

Among the Group/Grade 1 winners he covered this year are Albigna, Alexandrova, Awesome Maria, Bracelet, Clemmie, Curvy, Deirdre, Fancy Blue, Found, Miss Yoda, Nickname, Peeping Fawn, The Fugue and Was, while he also served the dams of major talents such as Audarya, Channel, Golden Horde, Harry Angel, Immortal Verse, Limato, Line Of Duty, Mabs Cross, Mukhadram, One Master, Sioux Nation, Snowfall, Technician, Tepin and Zoustar.

Wootton Bassett: covered 244 mares during his first season at CoolmoreCredit: Coolmore

As well as being the fifth Group 1 winner sired by Wootton Bassett, Zellie becomes the first top-flight scorer for Nathaniel as a broodmare sire.

The Newsells Park Stud resident has made his mark through his Group 1-winning daughters Channel, Enable, God Given and Lady Bowthorpe, but with his oldest progeny still only seven, the son of Galileo has had only very limited opportunities as a broodmare sire, with just six runners to date.

Zellie's performance unsurprisingly earned her quotes for next year's Classics, with the youngster around 12-1 for both the 1,000 Guineas and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and her pedigree offers further encouragement for such a test.

Trainer Pam Sly with her 1,000 Guineas heroine SpeciosaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Her dam Sarai, who was placed twice in Germany, is a half-sister to Speciosa, a memorable winner of the 2006 1,000 Guineas for trainer Pam Sly, while the pair can also count three other black-type Flat performers among their siblings.

Zellie's emergence is not the only enhancement the pedigree has undergone this year, as another of Sarai's siblings is the unraced Gadfly, dam of unbeaten Prestige Stakes scorer Mise En Scene.

Zellie is the second foal out of Sarai, who was bred by Newsells Park and sold to Winning Bloodstock Agency for 55,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2017. Zellie herself went unsold at €140,000 when offered at the Arqana Select Sale in 2020.

She initially carried the colours of Lavinia Fabre, daughter of trainer Andre Fabre, but after a private transfer she ran for Al Wasmiyah Farm on Sunday. The filly also provides a handsome pedigree update for her Dabirsim half-sister, who was bought by Paul Nataf for €95,000 at this year's Arqana August Sale.

Dark Angel: Yeomanstown Stud stalwart supplied his ninth Group/Grade 1 winner on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann

The following race, the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, saw Dark Angel sire his ninth top-level winner as Angel Bleu continued his own rapid progression.

Possessing an abundance of toughness as well as talent, Angel Bleu, who was bred by Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock, has now won four of his seven starts, including the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

He is the first foal out of Cercle De La Vie, a Galileo sister to none other than Highland Reel, who won seven top-flight contests and also ran second to Found in the 2016 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Angel Bleu was a €120,000 private purchase by Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to owner Marc Chan, although his exploits helped his Siyouni half-brother attain a rather larger sum at this year's Arqana August Sale, having been knocked down to Oliver St Lawrence at €1.5 million.

Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel has enjoyed another fine season, with the likes of Althiqa and Raging Bull landing Grade 1 prizes in the US.

The 16-year-old son of Acclamation has been in particularly hot form of late, with Angel Bleu's success coming hot on the heels of Real World winning the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, Wings Of War claiming the Mill Reef Stakes and Art Power bolting up in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes.

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