Two of Darley’s first-season sires added to their tally of successful progeny on 19 June, with Iffraaj and Librettist siring their eighth and fifth winners respectively.
Wootton Bassett (by Iffraaj, pictured) won at the first time of asking, landing the six-furlong maiden atAyr in style. Settled off the pace, the Richard Fahey-trained colt was asked for an effort two furlongs out and quickened impressively to score by a length and a quarter from Easy Ticket, with the pair a full five lengths clear of the third-placed horse.
Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud, Wootton Bassett is the fourth winner out of the Stakes-placed mare Balladonia (Primo Dominie) and is from the family of G1 winners Silver Patriarch and Papineau (Sinsgpiel).
Later the same day, Librettist’s son Da Ponte justified odds-on favouritism when taking the seven-furlong maiden at Lingfield. Never far from the front, Da Ponte took the lead with a furlong left to run and moved clear of his rivals to win by two lengths.
Bred by R P Williams, Da Ponte is out of the Fantastic Light mare Naharnook, a half-sister to Godolphin’s G1 winner Firebreak.
