Debut Win for Wootton Bassett Colt – Equal Favourite for Golden Slipper

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 21

The open juvenile event at Randwick on Saturday over 1000m drew an intriguing field that featured several runners held in very high regard by their trainers and when the dust had settled it was Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Pallaton that had put his name in lights with an ultra impressive debut win.

Pallaton wins in style at Randwick - image Steve Hart

A homebred for Anthony Gow Gates, the Michael Freedman trained Pallaton looked promising in his two lead up trials when ridden by Tommy Berry, the most recent when winning easily at Randwick on December 9.

With Berry again on board for race day, Pallaton settled off the speed and when given the cue to quicken he pounced on the leader Chergui to race clear and win by two and a half lengths over the Godolphin bred half-brother to Group I winners Alizee and Astern.

Inclined to look around at the finish, Pallaton made the task look too easy with bookmakers immediately elevating him to equal favouritism for the Golden Slipper with the filly Bel Merci, winner of the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes.

“We’ve had a good opinion of him for a while and he’s has been very professional right from the first day we got him in,” said Michael Freedman.

Advertisement

“Hew has a great temperament, just the perfect two year-old type and I worked him with an older horse earlier this week and he more than held his own and I thought if he brings that to the races you will see the best of him.”

Freedman will ponder the future for the talented colt with a 10 day break the first priority before a plan is put in place to target the better autumn juvenile races and Pallaton is not the only Wootton Bassett in the stable.

“We have a few at home and they have a terrific constitution and great temperament,” Freedman said.

“I said to someone earlier in the week they remind of back in the day with the Danehill’s, they had that relaxed and laid back temperament and there is a bit of that talk around with a few of the other trainers saying the same thing.”

Pallaton is the first Australian 2YO winner for Wootton Bassett - image Steve Hart

Pallaton is a half-brother to four winners from juvenile stakes-winner Anevay, a half-sister by Exceed and Excel to Group II winner Krupt and to the dam of stakes-winner Poifect.

Anevay has a yearling colt by Smart Missile and after having a year off is now in foal to Home Affairs.

Pallaton is the first Australian two year-old winner for Wootton Bassett, who is the Champion European Sire of 2YO’s in 2024 with an astonishing 42 winners and 13 are stakes-winners headed by Group I winners Twain, Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro and Tennessee Stud.

Wootton Bassett has just finished his fourth season at Coolmore Australia.

Wootton Bassett has just returned to Ireland following his fourth season at stud in Australia for Coolmore and is poised to play a big role at Magic Millions with 30 yearlings on offer at the Gold Coast.

Visit the profile page for Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate 1000m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.25
1
Pallaton
- 2c Wootton Bassett (GB) x Anevay (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
2
2.8
Chergui
- 2c Frosted (USA) x Essaouira (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 57
3
3.5
Wisnierska
- 2f Anders (AUS) x Fact Or Fable (AUS) (Street Boss (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: C Schofield 55
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2 $0
Seller: Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Psd $70000 Res $80000
4
4.9
Quietly Arrogant
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Single Sapphire (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: Billy Loughnane 57
5
5
Waverley Road
- 2c Wootton Bassett (GB) x Mistress Oz (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: Dylan Browne McMonagle 57
6
5.9
The Magic Man
- 2c Showtime (AUS) x Litigation (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: Molly Bourke 55
7
6.8
Southern Prince
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Southern Venture (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: J Ford 57
8
6.9
Albany Road
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Miss Toorak Flyer (AUS) (Toorak Toff (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 57
9
7
Cenotaph
- 2c Lonhro (AUS) x Memorial (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
More Reading...
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.