Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from January Cup day

Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has run the rule over all the chances from Saturday’s 10-race card at Rosehill Gardens.

Wodeton produced the performance of the day at Rosehill Gardens. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

A new Golden Slipper favourite emerged when Wodeton dominated the opener at Rosehill Gardens while Osipenko finally returned to winning ways in the feature on Saturday.

Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has analysed all the chances across the January Cup day card and found a few worth following.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

WODETON (race 1 – 1st)

No prizes for putting this super debut winner in the blackbook. The boom was big and he backed it up with an arrogant first-up performance on home turf to surge into Golden Slipper favouritism.

Did we just see the Golden Slipper winner?! 😮

Wodeton wins brilliantly at Rosehill for @cwallerracing and @mcacajamez!@aus_turf_club | @CoolmoreAuspic.twitter.com/ZlCFYR68WS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025

BENGAL (race 3 – 4th)

This son of Zoustar was coming off a Moruya maiden win and gave an excellent account of himself, finishing less than two lengths off Polyglot. New trainer Luke Pepper should have plenty of fun with him.

SHOHISHA (race 4 – 1st)

I’ve got no doubt David Payne has a stakes quality filly on his hands here and she beat the Midway field as you’d expect for a horse of her class. Not sure if she’s top level but there’s a nice race in her.

Classy win from Shohisha in the Midway! 👌@[e-mail]/V6rStUbpVk

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 18, 2025

WYMARK (race 8 – 9th)

The former Australian Derby contender was only getting warm late in his first run in eight months over an unsuitable 1300m trip. It might be too short for him again next start but third-up could be the time to back him.

MOGWAI (race 9 – 3rd)

Ex-Godolphin galloper which looks to have settled in nicely to his new yard. He found a couple better on the day but tipping it won’t be long before he enjoys another win.

Zondee swoops to take the TAB Hcp, giving @G1TySchil a Rosehill double!@HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/8q7l3zrkuk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025

STEWARDS SAY

Miss Fleetwood (race 1): Was a late scratching after dumping Tom Sherry on the way to the gates and escaping the clerk of the course for several minutes before being recaptured.

Scopics (race 2): Jockey Tommy Berry reported he felt the gelding didn’t handle soft conditions and had a disappointing finishing effort. No abnormalities were found.

Gilded Water (race 5): Received a warning for his barrier manners after he was slowly away. The gelding was found to be suffering mild heat stress and the stable will update stewards of his condition in coming days.

Emmadella (race 6): Zac Lloyd was at a loss to explain the poor performance after the mare disappointed despite past wet track form. No abnormalities were found post-race.

The Little Pumper (race 9): Over-raced throughout the middle stages and was disappointing in the manner that he weakened in the home straight. He was found to be slow to recover post-race.

CRUNCH TIME

Wodeton (race 1): Showed the acceleration of a really smart juvenile when rocketing home with a last 600m of 33.58sec on debut. He was the horse 2YO to break 34 across the meeting and clocked closing splits of 10.62 and 11.22.

Shohisha (race 3): Demonstrated a strong turn of speed from just off the pace to salute with a last 600m of 34.11sec to salute. She put them away with a 11.13 split between the 400m and 200m.

Tajanis wins eased down at Rosehill, and that's three for @mcacajamez and a @cwallerracing double!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/2KfcXvcfMQ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025

Tajanis (race 5): Landed near the back early but James McDonald worked into the race and went for home a long away out. The import responded, running the best final four furlongs of the race with a 35.06sec last 600m.

Zondee (race 9): A clear last in the run, he surged home from the back with a clear race best last 600m of 34.31sec to win. He was flying late with splits of 11.17 and 11.55.

TRACK TALK

“At the same stage of their careers, Wodeton is equally as good as Switzerland. He’s strong and big, he’s just got everything going for him.” James McDonald.

“We are glad to get this race over with. He was the most highly talked-about colt when we were up at the Magic Millions.” Charlie Duckworth on Wodeton.

“I want to win the premiership again but it is not going to be easy.” J-Mac again.

“If he keeps winning like that, he is speaking our language,” trainer James Cummings on the well-named Polyglot.

“She is definitely heading towards black type.” Bjorn Baker on Perfumist.

“She’s good, I think she can win a Group race.” David Payne on Shohisha.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Race 1

Wodeton was a big early pocket-filler for TAB punters with around 63% of the money in the Rosehill opener. Bets included two @ $5000 outlays at $1.65, $3500 @ $1.55 multiple $3000 bets at $1.65. There had already been several $2000 takes at $1.95 and $1.85 to bring the price from even-money into $1.60 before jumping at $1.65.

Race 6

Perfumist was another popular winning favourite for TAB punters after saluting with a 38% hold and bets, including $5800 @ $2.80 and multiple $2200 outlays at $3.40 and $3.20.

January Cup

Followers who stayed loyal to Osipenko were finally rewarded with multiple $2000 outlays at $3 registered with TAB as well as $2200 @ $3 and $2100 @ $2.80.

THE SCHEDULE

Monday: Albury, Gunnedah.

Tuesday: Newcastle

Wednesday: Kensington

Thursday: Tamworth

Friday: Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Parkes, Murwillumbah

Sunday: Wyong, Wagga

■■■■■

RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL GARDENS SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY

Wodeton mightn’t have beaten much at his debut but he certainly had the ‘wow’ factor about him in everything he did. He gives the impression he is the ideal Golden Slipper type with the right attitude with plenty more to offer.

FORGET THEY RAN

While he was well beaten I wouldn’t be too critical of Gilded Water. It was a stop-start race and he was made to carry his weight with an early sprint for home and did pull up with mild heat stress. He is better than that and might be suited on good ground.

THE BLACK BOOK 

Outside of Wodeton I thought the stayer Wymark was a hidden run. He only beat two home and was beaten more than six lengths but he was just run of his legs at the distance but I loved his work through the line.

RIDE OF THE DAY

James McDonald went to the races with six rides and kicked four of them home to victory.

His ride on Tajanis was confident and well thought out and by far the ride of the day.

Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from January Cup day