Henri Matisse, Art in Equine Form, Retired to Coolmore Ireland for 2026

A Group 1 winner at both two and three, the son of Wootton Bassett will begin his new life at stud following a career defined by brilliance, consistency, and elegance

Henri Matisse: Pedigree, Physique and Performance of a Stallion Dream / COOLMORE

COUNTY KILDARE, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- European racing bids farewell to one of the most talented and complete colts in recent memory. Henri Matisse, a true embodiment of speed, class, and consistency, will enter stud duty as the fastest winner in the history of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1) and as the only Classic-winning miler sired by the late Wootton Bassett—a distinction that makes him a stallion of immense genetic value for the powerhouse of Coolmore.

Henri Matisse’s career was as precocious as it was brilliant. From his debut at The Curragh as a juvenile, he made it clear he was a colt apart, scoring over six furlongs before stringing together two emphatic Group victories: first in the Railway Stakes (G2) over the same trip, then in the Futurity Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs under a penalty. In both, he dispatched future Group 1 winners such as Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot), Scorthy Champ (Mehmas), and Arizona Blaze (Sergei Prokofiev), a measure of the depth of his talent.

A narrow defeat in the National Stakes (G1) proved only a brief interruption before his international coronation. Traveling across the Atlantic, Henri Matisse captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, where Ryan Moore guided him with poise and confidence to cap a stellar 2-year-old campaign. That win cemented his status among the best juveniles in the Northern Hemisphere.

At three, his Classic season began in style with a decisive score in the Leopardstown Guineas Trial, a prelude to his historic triumph in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1) at ParisLongchamp. That day in Paris, Henri Matisse was simply majestic—relaxed early, quickening on cue to draw clear and stop the clock in record time for the mile, earning his place among the modern greats of the division. Weeks later at Royal Ascot, he confirmed his quality when finishing a gallant runner-up to Field of Gold (Kingman) in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1), splitting the winners of the Irish and English Guineas.

Over the course of his career, Henri Matisse won or placed in nine of his eleven starts, with his only missteps coming on soft ground, a surface that never suited him. Beyond numbers, he left an impression of elegance and determination, blending explosive natural speed with the kind of acceleration reserved for champions.

“He was an exceptional colt—Group 1 and Group 2 winner at two over 1200, 1400 and 1600 meters, beating top-class rivals every step of the way,” said David O’Loughlin, Coolmore’s director. “His Breeders’ Cup win was outstanding, and his record-setting performance in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains showcased his brilliance. Along with Camille Pissarro, he’s the only son of Wootton Bassett to win Group 1 races at both two and three. And Wootton Bassett’s early stallion sons are already proving themselves, with his first two having produced Group 1 winners in France this year.”

Henri Matisse also hails from one of Europe’s most treasured families. His dam, Immortal Verse (Pivotal), was a top-class racemare—winner of the Coronation Stakes (G1) and Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1)—and set a European record when sold for 4.7 million guineas as a broodmare. At stud, she continued her legacy by producing Tenebrism(Caravaggio), a champion 2-year-old, and the unbeaten G2 winner Statuette (Justify), both full or half-sisters to Henri Matisse.

“With that pedigree, physique, movement, and temperament, there’s no doubt he’ll be a hugely popular stallion,” added O’Loughlin.

Henri Matisse’s stud fee will be announced in due course, but his arrival at Coolmore already generates enormous anticipation. He not only extends the legacy of Wootton Bassett, but also ushers in a new era for Europe’s Classic miler line—where art and speed meet once more under one name: Henri Matisse.