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Coolmore’s Tom Magnier keeps feet firmly planted as Wodeton, Public Attention chase feature race double at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Maybe it’s a Storm Boy hangover but Coolmore’s Tom Magnier hasn’t let the hype on boom colt Wodeton cloud his thinking going into the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Ray Thomas
6 min read
February 21, 2025 - 12:59PM
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Maybe it’s a Storm Boy hangover but Coolmore’s Tom Magnier hasn’t let the hype on boom colt Wodeton cloud his thinking going into the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“This is an important race and if you listen to the Chris Waller camp, James (McDonald) and Kerrin (McEvoy), Wodeton’s an exciting colt,’’ Magnier said.

“Kerrin rode him trackwork during the week and was very happy with the horse but our feet are very firmly planted on the ground, we are not getting carried away.’’

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Wodeton is the $2 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to maintain his unbeaten record in the Silver Slipper.

The Chris Waller-trained colt was very impressive on debut at Rosehill over the 1100mn course last month, racing away to win by nearly four lengths. He was then installed a dominant $3 favourite for the $5 million Golden Slipper next month.

But Magnier was in a similar situation 12 months ago with unbeaten duo Storm Boy and Switzerland going into the Golden Slipper only for the colts to finish third and eighth respectively behind Lady Of Camelot.

“We had the first and second favourite in the Golden Slipper last year so we all know what can happen, we are not dealing with robots,’’ Magnier said.

“But Wodeton is doing everything right so far although a lot of water needs to flow under the bridge.’’

Magnier has designs on a feature Rosehill double with the promising Public Attention among the main chances in the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

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Public Attention won the Eskimo Prince Stakes first-up and has a potentially decisive race fitness edge over main rival Broadsiding.

“Mick (Price) and Michael (Kent Jnr) have always had a big opinion of this colt,’’ Magnier said.

“He showed ability in the spring then went out for a break at Mt White where he has matured physically and mentally.

“The horse showed at Randwick he has returned in great order and it will be interesting to see if he can back that up on Saturday.’’

Godolphin colt Broadsiding is the $2.20 favourite with Public Attention pressing at $4.20.

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

AMELIA’S Dream’s longstanding Silver Slipper race record of 1m 02.9s set in 2008 could be under threat on Saturday.

Gambler, trained by the master Peter Snowden, has shown dazzling speed in successive barrier trial wins in recent weeks and will give his two-year-olds rivals something to chase around the Rosehill 1100m course.

“Our intention is to be positive early and I would be surprised Gambler doesn’t lead given how quickly this horse musters speed out of the barriers,’’ leading syndicator and part-owner James Harron said.

“He’s a horse that you don’t want to be holding back in his races. All his riders say he gets into his rhythm so quickly.’’

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Gambler has been gelded since failing at his only start last spring but the chestnut son of Capitalist has made everyone sit up and take notice with two brilliant trial wins in recent weeks.

“The big query is whether he can sustain that speed and run those sectionals over 1100m and 1200m,’’ Harron said.

“In terms of the times he is running and what he is doing at home (trackwork), it has been absolutely top shelf.’’

Harron will be at Caulfield on Saturday where he has top colt Espionage resuming in the Group 1 $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m).

Espionage was one of the best two-year-olds of his generation last season, winning the Breeders Plate and Kindergarten Stakes, but was ruled out of the spring carnival when he suffered a leg wound in training.

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“Everyone has a huge opinion of Espionage and he was the horse we were lining up for The Everest and Coolmore Stud Stakes,’’ Harron revealed.

“He was close to going back to the races last spring and was on the walker when something spooked him and he kicked out, cutting his leg. He required stitching and it put him out for spring.

“But he’s coming up really well this time, he’s always promised a lot, he’s in great nick, and fingers crossed he can run a big race at Caulfield.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

GAI Waterhouse has an opportunity to finally win two Group 1 races that have eluded her so far during her celebrated career.

The Hall of Famer, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, has Espionage lining up in the Oakleigh Plate and The Playwright contests the $2 million Blue Diamond at Caulfield on Saturday.

Waterhouse has trained the winners of just about every major race on the Australian turf calendar and her tally of 160 Group 1 wins (26 in partnership with Bott) ranks her fourth on the all-time list behind her late father Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings with 246 majors each, then Chris Waller on 171.

• Boss backs Wodeton to take gold in Silver Slipper

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

STAR young jockey Tyler Schiller is developing a special affinity with West Of Africa, the sprinter with the spectacular finish.

Trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, West Of Africa goes into the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday after his stunning last-to-first effort to win the Magic Millions Cup last month.

“I love this horse,’’ Schiller said of West Of Africa. “He relaxes well in his races and does everything I ask of him.

“He is going great and has his favourite barrier out wide so I can ride him in his comfort zone and I know he will be running on strongly.’’

• Schiller swoops in for Hawkes clean sweep bid at Rosehill

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

HONG Kong champions Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising are confronted by very new race challenges on Sunday.

Romantic Warrior, the world’s number one-ranked horse, competes on dirt for the first time in the $30 million Saudi Cup (1800m) at Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia.

Ka Ying Rising, Hong Kong’s super sprinter, is going to 1400m for the first time in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin.

Romantic Warrior’s trainer Danny Shum is increasingly confident the world’s greatest prizemoney winner of nearly $35 million will handle the dirt track.

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“His trackwork is awesome. He’s improving, this horse, even though he is seven years old, he will run a good race,’’ Shum said.

Hong Kong-based Australian trainer David Hayes is also convinced Ka Ying Rising will cope his first attempt at 1400m when he attempts a 10th consecutive in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.

“I’m looking forward to the first time at 1400. He gives the impression with his ability to relax mid-race that he will handle it,” Hayes said.

“If he relaxes, I think his sprint will look even better and I expect him to – he’s been trained to relax – but let’s just see. You never know until they run the distance. My feeling is that he will love 1400.”

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■ ■ ■ ■ ■

5 YEARS AGO

Farnan, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, gave a brilliant speed display to thrash his rivals in the Silver Slipper at Rosehill. John Sargent’s Brandenburg, a $41 outsider, upset his more high profile rivals in the Hobartville Stakes. At Caulfield, Tagaloa held off favourite Hanseatic to win the Blue Diamond. Brilliant mare Pippie won the Oakleigh Plate and Streets Of Avalon took out the Futurity Stakes.

10 YEARS AGO

Hallowed Crown, winner of the Golden Rose the previous spring, resumed with a tough win over Sweynesse in the Hobartville Stakes. The Team Hawkes-trained Headwater scored his second win from as many starts when he proved too good for his rivals in the Silver Slipper. Peter Snowden’s Pride Of Dubai (sire of Bella Nipotina and Pride Of Jenni) edged out Rageese in a thrilling Blue Diamond. Shamal Wind scored a career-best win in the Oakleigh Plate and Suavito, under Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver, won the Futurity Stakes.

20 YEARS AGO

Domesday, trained by John Hawkes, maintained his unbeaten record when he edged out Flying Pegasus in the Silver Slipper. The Anthony Cummings-trained Outback Prince won the Hobartville. Fastnet Rock followed his win over Alinghi in the Lightning Stakes and scored his second successive Group 1 win in the Oakleigh Plate. Regal Roller, a dual Group 1 winner the previous spring, was back to top form with an all-the-way win in the Futurity Stakes and Undoubtedly, a $26 outsider, was an upset winner of the Blue Diamond.

Originally published as Coolmore’s Tom Magnier keeps feet firmly planted as Wodeton, Public Attention chase feature race double at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/coolmores-tom-magnier-keeps-feet-firmly-planted-as-wodeton-public-attention-chase-feature-race-double-at-rosehill-gardens-on-saturday/news-story/fea8861cb9f5ee5649f1ad28c6a99fdf