Wootton Bassett's Beautify bags Airlie Stakes Aidan O’Brien has hailed Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett as an ‘incredible stallion’ following the rags-to-riches-story’s latest stakes winner today, as Beautify (2/1) landed the Curragh’s Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes. Third on course debut last month, Beautify made almost all the running today and while ridden along two furlongs out and joined by strong-travelling Group 3-winner Lady Iman at the furlong pole, scampered clear to beat that rival by two lengths. Regarding Beautify, O’Brien stated “Ryan (Moore, winning jockey) gave her a lovely ride. She had a lovely run first time and came forward lovely since then. The plan had been to get a run into her and then come here for this race. “It’s a very good race, a Group 2, an important race and a great track. It’s a very important race for a filly and Ryan was very impressed. He said he’d love to go up to seven (furlongs) with her, that’s a very good sign when you hear him talking like that. “Obviously she’s a Moyglare (Stakes) type filly but she obviously gets six (furlongs) very strong and travelled very strong. Ryan said she really got going inside the furlong marker and started to really open up. It’s great to hear that.” Purchased by Coolmore in 2020, Wootton Bassett’s covering fee has risen from just €4,000 in 2014 to €300,000 currently, and having also produced O’Brien’s today’s opening-race winner Dorset, the champion trainer commented “he’s an incredible stallion. The speed that they have and they stay, which is incredible. “It’s very unusual, loads of speed and trips seem to be no problem to them either.” Quotes from Gary Carson
