Country trainer Rod Northam looking forward to taking on the city stables with his two-year-old debutant Splash Of Steel

Rod Northam is confident his $18,000 yearling buy Splash Of Steel is up to the challenge when he takes on a field of quality rivals including $1.6m colt Wodeton on debut at Rosehill.

Trainer Rod Northam is hoping his bargain buy Splash Of Steel can take down his high-priced rivals on debut at Rosehill. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racing’s history is littered with “David versus Goliath” battles and trainer Rod Northam is hoping bargain buy Splash Of Steel can add his name to the list at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Scone conditioner will make the trip down from his Hunter Valley base for Splash Of Steel’s much-anticipated debut against a string of Sydney’s big guns in the Chandon 2YO Handicap (1100m).

Northam paid just $18,000 to snap up Splash Of Steel at last year’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale with several of his rivals going through the same auction.

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One of those boom colts, and early Golden Slipper fancy, is Wodeton who Coolmore forked out $1.6m to purchase.

“That’s the thing about racing, you have to be able to buy the cheap ones to take on the expensive ones and you just never know what’s going to happen,” Northam said.

“I hung around all day to get him but I quite liked him.

“He is just average size, maybe a little bit on the small side by quite strong and has a good attitude, that’s why he is still a colt.”

The Chris Waller-trained Wodeton dominates betting for the opening event and has shortened from $2 into $1.85 favouritism in the lead-up.

Splash Of Steel has been $51 into $21 with Northam’s former apprentice Reece Jones set to do the steering.

Northam expects his son of Winning Rupert to run a big race.

“He is really nice horse,” Northam said.

“He has done everything we’ve asked him to do.

“It’s obviously a big step up taking on the city horses on Saturday but he trialled well and if he can reproduce his trial or improve a few lengths, which I think he has, then he should run well.”

SPLASH OF STEEL (2 c Winning Rupert - Filly of Steel) scores his second trial win for @rodnortham 💪

The colt was an $18k buy for his trainer from @Holbrook_TBs@mmsnippets Gold Coast draft 🥇 @racing_nswpic.twitter.com/xMd0l817Ml

— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) January 3, 2025

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Northam had hoped to get Splash Of Steel to the Gold Coast to run in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) but ended up among the emergencies after missing a deadline to trial the colt.

There was a silver lining as Splash Of Steel benefited greatly from a visit to Sydney, winning his trial over 799m at Warwick Farm on January 3.

“There was a clause that you had to trial before the 1st of January to get in The Debut so he stayed at the bottom of the ballot so that was a little bit frustrating,” Northam said.

“It was a good trial and he would have learned a lot from the trip.

“He trialled at Muswellbrook but that was his first decent trip away from home and he behaved himself really well.

“He was a real gentleman and Reece (Jones) was very pleased with him. He said he was a lovely ride and did everything he wanted him to do.

“We thought we would give him a shot in town.”

It’s likely Saturday’s meeting will be staged on a rain affected track with a heavy surface a significant possibility.

Tarabeau just kept on finding!@[e-mail]/t6JjgZMcYf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 19, 2023

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“We don’t really know if he will handle the ground,” Northam said.

“He has worked really well on heavy tracks at home so we will roll the dice and run him.”

A heavy track would likely put an end to stablemate Zippo Idea’s chances in the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1400m).

The daughter of Better Than Ready was third in a Benchmark 66 at Scone last time after missing the start and is ready to run well if she lines up on Saturday.

“I am a bit worried about the heavy track and probably wouldn’t run her on heavy but if it’s slow maybe I will run her,” Northam said.

“I am not so worried about the barrier, more the track.

“She has been having some trouble getting out of the barriers so the wide draw probably isn’t the worst thing.

“If she could begin cleanly, I would expect her to race really well because I thought he run last start was really good after missing six or seven lengths in probably the worst ground on the track.”

Zippo Idea is a $16 chance with Jones also booked to ride.

Originally published as Country trainer Rod Northam looking forward to taking on the city stables with his two-year-old debutant Splash Of Steel