Champion stallion Wootton Bassett dies at Coolmore Australia

Sad news has struck the thoroughbred world with the passing of champion stallion Wootton Bassett at Coolmore Australia.

The sire suffered from choke and subsequently developed acute pneumonia, which deteriorated rapidly. Despite intensive around-the-clock care from a team of veterinarians led by Dr Nathan Slovis of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, he could not be saved.

Wootton Bassett’s rise to stardom as a sire was remarkable. He began his career at Haras d’Etreham in France under Nicolas de Chambure, before being acquired by Coolmore in 2020, where he quickly developed into one of the world’s elite stallions.

From his current two and three-year-old crops conceived in Ireland, he has produced 25 Stakes winners, including six Group 1 stars. Among them are multiple Group 1-winning colts Camille Pissarro and Henri Matisse, as well as this season’s brilliant filly Whirl.

His European two-year-old crop of 2025 is already among the most exciting ever seen at Ballydoyle, featuring Group winners such as Albert Einstein, Constitution River, Puerto Rico, Composing and Beautify. Albert Einstein, in particular, has been hailed by Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore as one of the best juveniles they have ever trained or ridden.

Coolmore clients still have three more crops in the pipeline, with the first to go under the hammer at the upcoming yearling sales. In Australia, Wootton Bassett made an immediate impression through Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, the first colt home in this year’s renewal, who will contest the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes for Chris Waller this weekend.

Wootton Bassett 2008 – 2025
Thank you to all the staff @coolmorestud both in Ireland & Australia @CoolmoreAus who cared for him day and night. pic.twitter.com/sy0Q7s0dJz

— Tom Magnier Coolmore (@TomMagnier) September 23, 2025