Wodeton (AUS)
2 c Wootton Bassett – Fiera Vista by Exceed And Excel
O: Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, Mr J Poulin, Sir P J Vela, Chris Waller Racing, Lynque, Peachester Lodge Pty Ltd, Mr R McClure, Meridian Bloodstock, Lockhart Waller Racing, Glentree Racing, Mr K MacLennan, Fairway Thoroughbreds, Marcstown Pty Ltd
B: Fairway Thoroughbreds, NSW
T: Chris Waller
S: 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Segenhoe Stud P: Tom Magnier, $1,600,000
W: Chandon Handicap, 1100m, January 18, Rosehill Gardens
Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) shot to the head of the betting for the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) after the highly touted colt produced a hugely eye-catching performance at Rosehill last Saturday.
Having already been prominent in the betting for the March feature ahead of his competitive debut, the Chris Waller-trained colt got off the mark in the easiest of fashions in an 1100-metre contest.
Lining up on the back of a pair of promising second-placed finishes in two trials at Warwick Farm, including one behind subsequent Golden Gift (Gr 3, 1000m) runner-up West Of Swindon (Wootton Bassett), the wrap had been big about the juvenile’s first racetrack outing.
Ridden by champion jockey James McDonald, the son of Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) was a step slow away from his barrier in seven and was forced to make up a couple of places early to sit mid-pack.
Rounding the home bend, Wodeton was pulled three-wide under a confident looking McDonald and, after ranging up to the long-time leaders, quickened impressively before extending in taking fashion towards the line to beat The Magic Man (Showtime) by an eased-down 3.9 lengths with a further 3.2 lengths back to the third-placed Sanctified (Super Seth).
“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,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.
“Exactly how he’d measure up to get into the Slipper, we’ll plot a path there. You’ve got the Canonbury [Stakes] in a fortnight, but we’ll see how he comes through and then work it out.
“He was probably the most highly talked about colt when we 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 was purchased for $1.6 million by Tom Magnier at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale out of the Segenhoe Stud draft, making him the most expensive colt from the first Australian crop of yearlings by Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett.
He runs in the colours of Coolmore, who own the colt in a partnership that includes his breeder Fairway Thoroughbreds, and is the second winner from as many foals to race out of the stakes-winning Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Fiera Vista, herself a half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Empress Rock (Fastnet Rock) from the family of champion Hong Kong sprinter Silent Witness (El Moxie).