Explosive debut secures Wodeton Slipper favouritism

Well bred colt Wodeton has taken the first step towards justifying his $1.6 million price tag.

WODETON winning the Chandon Handicap at Rosehill in Australia.
WODETON winning the Chandon Handicap at Rosehill in Australia. Picture: Bradly photos

Coolmore-owned colt Wodeton has rocketed into Golden Slipper favouritism following a scintillating debut win at Rosehill that has prompted James Mcdonald to compare him favourably to Switzerland at the same stage.

Bookmakers reacted quickly to the youngster's trouncing victory in Saturday's Chandon Handicap (1100m), winding Wodeton in from $13 to a clear-cut $5 top pick for the juvenile showpiece.

McDonald said he was showing similar ability to that of stablemate Switzerland, the Group 1-winning colt who took out his first three starts 12 months ago before finishing eighth to Lady Of Camelot in the Golden Slipper.

"At the same stage, he is equally as good (as Switzerland)," McDonald said.

"He's strong and big, he's just got everything going for him.

"He has done everything so professionally at home and he has never come off the bridle. Like I've said to everyone, if he finds a length off the bridle, it's going to be over. He exceeded expectations."

By exciting first season sire Wootton Bassett, Wodeton was a $1.6 million Magic Millions purchase and had garnered attention from two promising barrier trial performances.

Sent out a $1.60 favourite, McDonald found a trailing position three-deep with cover and when he let Wodeton stride at the top of the straight, the colt exploded clear to score by a neat four-lengths over The Magic Man ($7) with Sanctified ($12) battling on for third, another 3-1/4 lengths in arrears.

Charlie Duckworth, deputising for trainer Chris Waller, admitted the stable had some concerns running the colt on a soft 7 track, but were keen to have the services of McDonald, who will miss next Saturday's meeting due to overseas riding commitments.

"If it was in the heavy range we might have waited a week, but James won't be here. We wanted to have James on, and we are fortunate to be racing on a soft deck today," Duckworth said.

"Chris will plot a path to the Golden Slipper.

"There is the Canonbury Stakes coming up in a fortnight, but we will see how he comes through this race."

The event was delayed by more than five minutes when debutante Miss Fleetwood dislodged jockey Tom Sherry on the way to the starting stalls and proved a handful for officials to catch.

She was eventually rounded up unharmed, while Sherry also came through the incident unscathed.


Racing and Sports

Rosehill

Saturday, 18th January 2025

1
12:30
(local)

CHANDON HANDICAP

Age: 2yo WT: 54.0kg Type: OPEN
AUD $160,000
1100m TURF SOFT
1
12:30
(local)
AUD $160,000
1100m SOFT

CHANDON HANDICAP

Age: 2yo WT: 54.0kg Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 6. WODETON (AUS) 2yo C
WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) - FIERA VISTA (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD
CHRIS WALLER
$1.6
57kg
Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, J Poulin, Sir P J Vela, Chris Waller Racing, Lynque, Peachester Lodge Pty Ltd, R McClure, Marcstown, Meridian Bloodstock, Lockhart Waller Racing, Glentree Racing, K MacLennan & Fairway Thoroughbreds

Sales Information

2nd 1. THE MAGIC MAN (AUS) 2yo C
SHOWTIME (AUS) - LITIGATION (AUS)
MOLLY BOURKE
PAUL PERRY
$7
56kg
P Perry, Ms C G Collis, N W Perry, Dr B J Hudson & M R Tudehope

Sales Information

3rd 4. SANCTIFIED (NZ) 2yo C
SUPER SETH (AUS) - SACRED SIREN (NZ)
TOMMY BERRY
GERALD RYAN & STERLING ALEXIOU
$12
57kg
Ryan & Alexiou Racing, M J Davidson, Stag's Leap (Mgr: A Williams), M H Wood, Mrs M E Wood, Gubernatorial Racing, East Coast Seth, Blowhole Stewie, Ponderosa Princesses, Stellar Racing, Tyneside Oval Racing, Matty Mud Guts, J B Plozza & Peake Racing

Sales Information

4th 11. SHEEZA DIVA (AUS) 2yo F
PIERRO (AUS) - DIZZY DIVA (AUS)
WINONA COSTIN
MITCHELL & DESIREE KEARNEY
$101
54kg

Sales Information

5th 10. SEQUEL (AUS) 2yo F
COOL AZA BEEL (NZ) - COUVRE LIT (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
CHRIS WALLER
$15
54.5kg
6th 5. SPLASH OF STEEL (AUS) 2yo C
WINNING RUPERT (AUS) - FILLY OF STEEL (AUS)
REECE JONES
RODNEY NORTHAM
$13
57kg

Sales Information

7th 3. CROSSBOW (AUS) 2yo C
BETTER THAN READY (AUS) - DREAMARCHER (USA)
JASON COLLETT
CHRIS WALLER
$12
57kg

Sales Information

8th 7. GIDDY GIRL (AUS) 2yo F
WRITTEN TYCOON (AUS) - KANGA'S EYE (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
ANNABEL & ROB ARCHIBALD
$13
55kg

Sales Information

9th 9. PEWTER PEARL (AUS) 2yo F
HEADWATER (AUS) - FRENCH (AUS)
ALYSHA COLLETT
MITCHELL BEER
$41
55kg

Sales Information