Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Raceday recap:
"He's the real deal!" Blueblooded Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) lived up to his $1.6 million price tag on debut with a devastating 3.89l win at Rosehill Gardens.
Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) led the charge home at Flemington to continue trainer Tom Dabernig's weekend winners streak from the past two months.
Dushenka (Doubtland) causes an upset at Eagle Farm when downing the favourite Space Rider (Zoustar) and handing her Widden Victoria-based sire a second winner from three starters.
Third time's the charm for Our Naughty Secret (I'm All The Talk) at Ascot, as the filly took out the $80,000 Magic Millions Plate on Saturday.
Burgs Racing's Nev (Spieth {NZ}) soared away to a 4.65l victory at Townsville at his fourth start.
Blue chip Wodeton lives up to hype with dominant Rosehill debut
The debut of $1.6 million yearling Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been greatly anticipated, and the blue chip colt delivered on the promise of his price tag with an astounding debut victory at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained colt was patiently ridden by James McDonald before unleashing a devastating turn of foot in the home straight, flying home by 3.89l over The Magic Man (Showtime). Prior to the kick, Wodeton sat on the second line in the betting for the G1 Golden Slipper S., and his performance may just bump him into the top spot.
Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth was on course for the win, and described how eager the stable was to make use of McDonald before the jockey jets off for stints in Hong Kong and Dubai.
“If the track was in the heavy range, we might have waited a week, but James (McDonald) won’t be here (then),” Duckworth said. “We wanted to have James on, and we are fortunate to be racing on a soft deck today.
“He was the most highly talked about colt when we were up at the Magic Millions (last week), and he had only trialled and yet everyone was asking about him. To generate that much hype off of a trial when you are well held and didn’t even win...but obviously people knew what they were looking at and he’s pretty exciting.
“Chris will plot a path to the Golden Slipper 2025. There is the (G3) Canonbury Stakes coming up in a fortnight, but we will see how he comes through this race.”
“He’s the real deal,” said McDonald. “He has the most pure action and unbelievable demeanour about him and it’s going to take him a long way. You wait until you see him on good ground!”
Wodeton is the second foal of Listed Morphettville Guineas victress Fiera Vista (Exceed And Excel), half-sister to G2 AV Kewney S. winner Empress Rock (Fastnet Rock), and was purchased by Tom Magnier from Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, who remain in his ownership alongside astute investors including Wynaus, Sir Peter Vela, and Peachester Lodge.
Charlie Duckworth | Image courtesy of Chris Waller Racing
Fiera Vista’s dam Empress Jade (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to dual G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}) and multiple Group-winning Sister Madly (Redoute’s Choice). Magnier purchased Wodeton’s half-brother by I Am Invincible for $1.15 million at this year’s Gold Coast sale, whereas Fiera Vista was exported to Great Britain in August.
Cavalry Girl charges home in Flemington to continue Dabernig’s hot streak
Second on debut in the $150,000 Geelong Diamond behind Cherish Me (Brazen Beau), Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) went one better on Saturday when she charged home in the $150,000 Punters Club Sprint at Flemington. The Tom Dabernig trainee added to her trainer’s hot streak that has seen the Warrnambool-based conditioner bring home winners every weekend for the last two months.
“She’s always been a very professional filly,” Dabernig said. “She was well found by (purchaser) Joe O’Neill, he’s a great judge and his record speaks for itself.
“Her first run, I think we ran into a reasonably smart one in the winner, but she did everything pretty right and then today, mid-race there was a little bit of shuffling of positions and it didn’t put her off her game.
“She was able to accelerate and win quite softly. I thought Linda (Meech) rode her very confidently.
“She was able to accelerate and win quite softly. I thought Linda (Meech) rode her very confidently.” - Tom Dabernig
“She’s got very good speed. It’s probably yet a little bit unknown (if she could handle the jump to 1200 metres for a G1 Blue Diamond S.), but at this stage, she’s got very good recovery, good lungs and she did that quite comfortably.”
Bred by Mr P Hodgens and Mr Rob Piper, Cavalry Girl was offered at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale last year in Vinery Stud’s draft, where Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds paid $110,000 to take her home. She is the first foal from dual winner Islands (I Am Invincible), a half-sister to G2 Reisling S. and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Military Rose (General Nediym), who is the grandam of high class colt Espionage (Zoustar).
Gallery: Image courtesy of Racing Photos
At this year’s Gold Coast sale, Myracehorse, Bjorn Baker, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) combined to purchase Cavalry Girl’s half-sister by The Autumn Sun out of Vinery’s draft for $350,000. Islands has a filly foal at foot by Russian Revolution and visited G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Shinzo in November. Saturday's victory brings first season sire Bivouac up to three winners in his first crop.
Second winner for Doubtland with Eagle Farm debutante
Dushenka (Doubtland) delivered Widden Victoria’s young stallion Doubtland his second winner from three starters on Saturday with a 2.28l win in the opening $85,000 QTIS 2YO Handicap at Eagle Farm. Trained by Stuart Kendrick, she was a winner of her last trial at the Sunshine Coast before crossing the state for her debut. The much-fancied Space Rider (Zoustar), who was an emergency in last night’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, finished fourth.
"When you turn up taking on a $1.10 favourite, it's hard to be too confident, but we did think she'd run a forward race," stable representative Bayley Kendrick said.
"She's a well-built filly that we've had a lot of time for and she's really matured up nicely. Going straight to the 1200 metres was never going to be a problem for her. In her recent trial at the Sunshine Coast, she got the better of another horse of ours that we've got a bit of time for.
"It's great to launch her career this way. There's a bit to be excited about."
Bred by Peter Toole and family, Dushenka was offered at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale by Toole’s Ducatoon Park, where Champagne Bloodstock purchased the filly for $90,000. She is the fifth winner from the versatile four-time winner Tsarina Wonder (Churchill Downs), making Dushenka a half-sister to G3 Ottawa S.-placed Empress Of Wonder (Choisir) and Listed Silk Stocking H. runner-up Wonderful Riri (Barbados).
Dushenka as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tsarina Wonder has a yearling filly by Fierce Impact (Jpn) and was served by Artorious in November.
Naughty Secret plays it straight in Ascot victory
Our Naughty Secret (I’m All The Talk) put it all together at start number three for Steve Wolfe on Saturday, when she bounded away with the $80,000 Magic Millions Plate at Ascot. The 2-year-old filly appreciated the step up to 1200 metres in Saturday’s race, having finished outside the placings at her two previous starts over 1000 metres.
“I was very confident that she would go close today, barring the barrier,” said Wolfe. “I’m very grateful for Jade (McNaught, jockey), she’s one of the unsung heroes of the industry, she never complains, she rides a lot of work for me and several other people around. When we get the opportunity, we put her on, and she’s more than capable.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Western Racepix
“It’s exciting to win one with a 2-year-old that we have had ticking along, and I thought this one could be the one all the way along.
“It was a beautiful ride. About the 200 metres, I thought she could win. You never get sick of winning, do you?”
Bred by Dr CP Gales and Mrs A Gales, Our Naughty Secret is the first foal from four-time winner Time And Truth (Oratorio), from the family of G1 Railway S. winner Hardrada (Marooned {GB}) and nine-time winner Mood Swings (War Chant {USA}), winner of the Listed Black Heart Bart S. in September. Our Naughty Secret was a $60,000 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale purchase for Commercial Bloodstock Services (FBAA) from the draft of Gervase Park Stud. Time And Truth has a filly foal at foot by A Lot, and returned to the stallion in September.
Nev flashes home with wide margin finish in Townsville
Nev (Spieth {NZ}) stepped up to the plate at Townsville on Saturday, going one better than his last start second to win the $21,000 QTIS 2YO H. by 4.65l. Trained by Joshua Manzelmann, the 2-year-old gelding was having his fourth start, having debuted fourth in early December behind dual winner Satisfied Mugs (Invader).
Bred and retained by Burgs Racing, Nev is the first living foal from dual winner Cadabra (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}), who is a half-sister to 10-time winner Rinviata (NZ) (Postponed {NZ}) and a a close relation to Listed Princess S.-winning Improvise (Hinchinbrook).
Cadabra produced a colt by G2 Bill Stutt S. winner Glenfiddich in the spring, before visiting Stronger in October.
