Wootton Bassett

Coolmore Stud has announced the tragic and untimely passing of the incomparable dual-hemisphere stallion, Wootton Bassett.

A champion both on the track and at stud, with a lasting legacy that will live on through his progeny.

This is an immense loss to our horse racing world.

Sending deepest condolences to all who cared for him, to all who loved him, to all of those at Coolmore both here and abroad, and to the Magnier family.

Coolmore Australia

@CoolmoreAus

Wootton Bassett 2008 – 2025  

Posted by Coolmore 9/23/2025

"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.   Wootton Bassett’s story as a sire is a unique one. Nicolas de Chambure got him off to an incredible start at Haras d’Etreham in France before he was acquired by Coolmore in 2020.

In his time at Coolmore he developed into a world class sire, with 25 Stakes winners and six Group 1 winners from his current two and three-year-old crops conceived in Ireland. Included amongst these are multiple Group 1-winning sons Camille Pissarro and Henri Matisse as well as this season’s multiple Group 1-winning filly, Whirl.

His current two-year-old crop in Europe already includes six Group winners.

Albert Einstein, who defeated subsequent Group 1 winner Power Blue in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes, is considered by both Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore to be one of the best two-year-olds ever seen in Ballydoyle.

Two more colts, Constitution River and Puerto Rico, have won Group 2 races in recent weeks while a pair of fillies, Composing and Beautify, both scored at the same level.

Coolmore’s valued clients have three more crops in the pipeline the first of which will come under the hammer at the yearling sales in the weeks ahead.  

In Australia, his first crop is highlighted by this year’s Golden Slipper runner-up and first colt home Wodeton, who lines up in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes this weekend for Chris Waller."

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Choke in horses is a medical condition where the esophagus—the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach—becomes partially or fully obstructed by food, foreign objects, or other materials.

Unlike choking in humans, which involves a blockage of the airway (trachea) and restricts breathing, equine choke does not typically impede a horse's ability to breathe since the airway remains open. However, it is still a serious emergency that requires immediate attention due to potential life-threatening complications.

Causes:

Choke can occur due to several factors, including:

• Rapid Eating (Bolting): Horses that consume feed too quickly without proper chewing, often due to competition or stress, are at higher risk.

• Dental Issues: Poorly chewed food from dental disease, missing teeth, or jaw problems can lead to larger food particles lodging in the esophagus.

• Dry or Coarse Feed: Unsoaked pellets, hay cubes, or dry feeds like beet pulp can swell and block the esophagus if not adequately moistened.

• Foreign Objects: Swallowing items like large pieces of carrots, apples, or other treats can cause an obstruction.

• Underlying Conditions: Esophageal abnormalities (e.g., megaesophagus), sedation, or inadequate water intake can predispose horses to choke.