Explosive Debut Victory –$1.6million Wodeton Golden Slipper Favourite

Tara Madgwick - Saturday January 18

Within minutes of Wodeton passing the winning post at Rosehill on Saturday bookmakers had moved to elevate the Wootton Bassett (GB) colt to firm favouritism for the $5million Group I ATC Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 22.

Wodeton is super impressive at Rosehill - image Bradley Photography

Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, Wodeton had captured plenty of attention in his two previous trials albeit without winning and on both occasions there appeared to be plenty of petrol in the tank leaving pundits to speculate on what he might produce when popped the question.

We got the answer to that in the 1100m juvenile contest on Saturday and nobody was left in any doubt that Wodeton is the best two year-old seen out so far this season.

Advertisement

Sent out on a soft seven track, Wodeton jumped only fairly before working to a midfield position and settling three wide with cover coming to the turn. When angled into the clear, he changed gear and said goodbye to his rivals coasting home to win by nearly four lengths…. He might have beat nothing, but they way he did it was impressive.

There were so many things to like about the performance, not the least in the way he handled the pre-race hold up when Miss Fleetwood ditched her rider on the way to the gates and then refused to be caught delaying the start by nearly 15 minutes.

“He’s been incredibly dominant today and his demeanour even before the race with the delay was amazing and he’s like an old hand at the job and then getting caught three wide is never ideal, but he sidled up and put them away with great ease,” said assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth, who indicated his path to the Golden Slipper was still to be decided although the Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes in two weeks time may be an option.

“He was the most highly talked about colt when were up at the Magic Millions and he had only trialled and yet everyone was asking about him.

“To generate that much hype off a trial when you are well held and didn’t even win the trial, but obviously people knew what they were looking at and he’s pretty exciting.”

Wodeton lived up to the expectation of James McDonald - image Bradley Photography

James McDonald expected something amazing from Wodeton and got exactly that.

“He’s the real deal. He has the most pure action and unbelievable demeanour about him and it’s going to take him a long way,” he said.

“You wait until you see him on good ground!”

Wodeton was a $1.6million Magic Millions purchase from Segenhoe Stud for Tom Magnier and was the most expensive colt from the first Australian crop of yearlings by Wootton Bassett. He runs for Coolmore and partners with his breeder Fairway Thoroughbreds retaining a share in the ownership.

Wodeton sold for $1.6million as a yearling at Magic Millions.

Foaled and raised at Segenhoe, as were two of last night’s feature Magic Millions race winners Bosustow and Zarastro, Wodeton is the second foal and second winner from stakes-winning Exceed and Excel mare Fiera Vista, a half-sister to Group II winner Empress Rock from the family of world champion sprinter Silent Witness.

The third foal from Fiera Vista is an I Am Invincible colt that was sold by Segenhoe at Magic Millions for $1.15 million to Tom Magnier and she is now in foal to Southern Hemisphere time to Too Darn Hot (GB).

the half-brother by I Am Invincible to Wodeton sold for $1.15million at MM this year.

Wodeton is the third Australian first crop winner for Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett joining Pallaton and Gallo Nero, who was third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last night. He is also the sire of stakes-placed Wiltshire Square and West of Swindon, who was second in the $1million ATC Golden Gift.

As the Golden Slipper market now stands, Wootton Bassett has three of the top five with Wodeton, Pallaton and West of Swindon all in top contention.

Advertisment

Race Result - Chandon Hcp 1100m

Rosehill Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:05.90
1
Wodeton
- 2c Wootton Bassett (GB) x Fiera Vista (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $1,600,000
Seller: Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds)
Buyer: Tom Magnier
2
3.9
The Magic Man
- 2c Showtime (AUS) x Litigation (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: Molly Bourke 56
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $40,000
Seller: Alma Vale/Kitchwin Hills Partnership, Scone
Buyer: Paul Perry Horse Training Pty Ltd
Inglis Australian Weanling Sale $15,000
Seller: Toolooganvale Farm, Scone
Buyer: Garryard Equine Pty Ltd
3
7.1
Sanctified
- 2c Super Seth (AUS) x Sacred Siren (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $260,000
Seller: Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford
Buyer: Ryan & Alexiou Racing
4
8.5
Sheeza Diva
- 2f Pierro (AUS) x Dizzy Diva (AUS) (Starspangledbanner (AUS))
Tnr: M & D Kearney Rdr: Ms W Costin 54
5
9.4
Sequel
- 2f Cool Aza Beel (NZ) x Couvre Lit (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54.5
6
10.2
Splash Of Steel
- 2c Winning Rupert (AUS) x Filly Of Steel (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: R P Northam Rdr: Reece Jones 57
7
11.9
Crossbow
- 2c Better Than Ready (AUS) x Dreamarcher (USA) (Archarcharch (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 57
8
13.6
Giddy Girl
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Kanga's Eye (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
9
13.7
Pewter Pearl
- 2f Headwater (AUS) x French (AUS) (Nadeem (AUS))
Tnr: Mitchell Beer Rdr: A B Collett 55
More Reading...
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.