Exciting colt Pallaton surges to top of Golden Slipper markets with superb debut performance at Randwick

Pallaton received high praise from trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry before and the colt’s scintillating victory on debut at Randwick certainly lived up to it.

Pallaton and Tommy Berry cruise to an impressive debut victory at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Pallaton vaulted to the top of $5m Golden Slipper betting with a stunning debut win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton treated a field of superbly-bred, highly-regarded two-year-olds with contempt as he raced away with the Shinzo At Coolmore Plate (1000m).

Just moments before the start at Randwick, Pallaton had been at $101 for the Golden Slipper next March but it took the colt just a tick over 57sec to make a resounding statement and join West Of Swindon and Bel Merci as $15 equal favourites for the world’s richest two-year-old race.

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Pallaton is the first winner from the first Australian crop of Coolmore’s boom stallion Wootton Bassett, also the sire of West Of Swindon.

Freedman said the progeny of Wootton Bassett remind him of the legendary stallion Danehill, the sire of a record five Golden Slipper winners.

“I’ve got five by Wootton Bassetts and they have a bit of Danehill about them in terms of their temperament,” Freedman said.

“They all have lovely demeanours, you never hear them calling out or anything.

“Pallaton is typical of the Wotton Bassetts - he’s been very professional, does everything right, he’s just the perfect two-year-old.

“Tommy (Berry, jockey) said he just tracked up behind them and then showed a wicked turn of foot which is usually the sign of a good horse.”

Berry, already a three-time Golden Slipper winner including on the Freedman-trained Stay Inside (2021), was also glowing in his praise for Pallaton.

“Michael and I have always liked Pallaton and his work on Tuesday morning was exceptional,” Berry said.

“When I came back in on the horse after the gallop and before I had a chance to say anything, Michael said: ‘Tell me what is going to beat that horse on Saturday’.

“But the closer we were getting to the race we kept hearing these big spruiks for some of the other runners.

“I told Michael this morning if we win this race, I feel it is going to be a very good form race as there was a lot of depth to this field.”

That's a BIG win to Pallaton at Randwick! 🙌@MFreedmanRacing | @TommyBerry21 | @aus_turf_club | @CoolmoreAuspic.twitter.com/txZneOdLTi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

Pallaton ($4.20), bred and raced by leading Sydney racing identity Anthony Gow-Gates, settled in third position behind the leaders before exploding past favourite Chergui ($4) to win by a widening two-and-three-quarter lengths with Wisnierska ($6.50) nearly a length away third.

Berry said he was very keen to get cover on Pallaton early in the race.

“Pallaton has been so quick in his trials but today he sort of stepped a neck slow which worked in our favour,” Berry said.

“He relaxed as soon as he got the cover and from the moment he got a bit of room at the top of the straight, he was never going to get beaten.

“This colt has a great constitution as do all of the Wootton Bassetts. I know the sire has made it overseas but he is going to make it in no time here, too.”

Berry also paid tribute to Freedman who had Pallaton well-educated and ready to make a winning debut.

“I’ve won three Golden Slippers and I’ve been very lucky because I’ve got to ride for the best two-year-old trainers in the world like Gai Waterhouse, the Hawkes and Snowden stables, and Michael Freedman,” he said.

"We've had a good opinion of him for a little while"

There's more to come from Pallaton - get the latest from @MFreedmanRacing and @TommyBerry21!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/1w6cPAxZKJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

“I feel Michael is as good as the other three I just mentioned. We have made a great team over the years, he is a very good friend and I’m looking forward to the future with this colt.”

Pallaton already boasts the Freedman-Golden Slipper connection, on paper at least.

The colt’s fifth dam is Fanfreluche, a daughter of the mighty Northern Dancer and an internationally-regarded broodmare.

Fanfreluche is also the third dam of the Lee Freedman-trained Danehill colt Flying Spur, winner of the 1995 Golden Slipper.

Gow-Gates, best known as a part-owner of Fairway, a multiple Group 1 winner including the 2000 AJC Australian Derby, sent his former speedy mare Anevay to Wootton Bassett and Pallaton was the result of that mating.

“It’s been a while since I was in the winner’s circle at Randwick,” Gow-Gates said.

“But Pallaton is a nice colt, that was thrilling to watch.”

Freedman said he is likely to give Pallaton a break as the colt is not in any of the rich sales-related two-year-old races in coming weeks.

“I would say it is most likely we will put him out for a couple of weeks at the most,” Freedman said.

“Then we will look at something like the Canonbury Stakes or a race like that – he’s an exciting horse.”