Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
A star studded trial session at Randwick on Monday saw the Waller stable big guns in action such as Via Sistina (IRE), Fangirl, Lady Shenandoah, Aeliana and Autumn Glow, and they also sent around Wootton Bassett colt Wodeton.
Beaten a head by Marhoona in the Golden Slipper, Wodeton was the potential game changer for his sire last season and a win in that race would have seen Wootton Bassett take the crown of Champion First Season Sire that is now being carried by Ole Kirk.
Time moves on and we now go back to a clean slate and Wodeton had his second trial this morning over 850m finishing off under a hold for a half length second to Group I winner Manaal with heavy hitter Stefi Magnetica a close up fourth ahead of Sunlight’s sister Clean Energy.
Wootton Bassett also had three heat winners starting with Wootton Lass.
The John Sargent trained filly had three starts last season for a win at Canterbury in between two unplaced runs in Group class.
The Michael Freedman trained colt Pallaton also had three starts last season for a debut win at Randwick and then two unplaced efforts in better class, but has looked very good this time in with this effort his second trial win.
Michael Freedman also produced unraced colt Ruination, who produced his best effort to date at his third trial. Tommy Berry has been on this colt at his past two trials and today was the first time he’s asked him to do a bit more and he did well to edge out unraced Zoustar colt Defiance, who has also been showing potential over the winter in his trials.
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.