LEGENDARY racehorse and super stallion Wootton Bassett has died aged 17 – after ‘deteriorating rapidly’ upon contracting pneumonia.
The Coolmore king, who was standing at stud for just under £200,000 a cover in Australia, had been suffering from choke – an obstruction of the oesophagus.
A statement from breeding giants Coolmore read: “Wootton Bassett, one of the world’s great sires, has sadly passed away today at Coolmore Australia having suffered from choke and subsequently developing an acute pneumonia which deteriorated rapidly.
“Despite round-the-clock care from a dedicated team of vets, overseen by Dr Nathan Slovis from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky, he was unable to be saved.”
Trained by Richard Fahey, Wootton Bassett started his career winning over 6f at Ayr in June 2010.
He would go onto reel off a further five straight victories culminating in Group 1 glory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere later that year.
That saw him crowned champion two-year-old colt in France – but he didn’t quite reach the same heights as a three-year-old.
Wootton Bassett retired to stud in 2012 and initially stood for just £5,000 but his first crop boasted Classic winner and European champion three-year-old Almanzor.
From there he went from strength to strength before global powerhouse Coolmore swooped in 2020.
They stood him for €100,000 (roughly £88,000) before his fee rocketed to the final figure of $385,000 in Australia this year, just under an amazing £200,000 a go.
The incredible numbers don’t stop there.
Wootton Bassett won more than £500,000 on the track from just nine career runs.
But it is as stud where his value truly soared.
In addition to the colossal stud fee, his progeny have gone onto win millions worldwide.
According to his official stallion book which quotes figures from 2015 up to and including November 2024, his progeny have won £28.6million around the world.
Unsurprisingly, some of his best horses are those trained by Coolmore handler Aidan O’Brien.
Those include the likes of Group 1 winners Whirl, Camillle Pissarro, Henri Matisse and Twain.
But there are plenty others, such as recent Irish St Leger score Al Riffa, Amo Racing’s Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel and former Abbaye winner Wooded.
Racing fans were heartbroken by the loss of such a popular and influential horse.
One account said he had ‘gone too soon’, while another posted: “Absolutely heartbreaking to lose him like this – thoughts with the staff and all connections.”
And a third said: “I’m so sorry for you all, he was utterly magnificent.”
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