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.
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.
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.”
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.
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).
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.
