By Craig Kerry
Randwick trainer Michael Freedman knows what it takes to win a Golden Slipper, and he believes Pallaton – the first Australian victor by exciting Great Britain sire Wootton Bassett – has the temperament to emulate past champions.
Pallaton opened as a $101 chance with Sportsbet for the Golden Slipper, but was into $15 after dominating a much-hyped two-year-old 1000m battle at Randwick on Saturday.
Tommy Berry and Pallaton cruise to victory on Saturday at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
A winner and runner-up at his trials, Pallaton was a $4 chance on debut. He stalked the leaders under Tommy Berry before storming to the lead approaching the 100m and racing to an almost three-lengths victory.
“We’ve had a good opinion of him for a little while, he’s been very professional right from the first day we got him,” Freedman said.
“A great temperament, just the perfect two-year-old type. I worked him with an older horse earlier this week and he held his own, so I thought if he brings that to the races then hopefully you can see the best of him.
“I think there’s a bit more to come with him because he’s certainly not bottomed out yet.
Tommy Berry and Michael Freedman.Credit: Getty Images
“I’d say we’ll most likely give him a little let-up for 10 days or so, then bring him back and target some of the better two-year-old races.”
Pallaton was bred by prominent Sydney owner Anthony Gow-Gates out of his mare Anevay, which is also the dam of Freedman-trained Yiska.
The progeny of Wootton Bassett, which had a stud fee of $192,500 in Australia, are quickly generating excitement, and Freedman saw comparisons with champion sire Danehill.
Freedman, in partnership with his brothers, prepared four consecutive Golden Slipper winners – Bint Marscay, Danzero, Flying Spur and Merlene – the last three of which were sired by Danehill. Freedman and his brother, Richard, also won the race with Stay Inside.
“I’ve got a few at home,” he said of the Wootton Bassett crop.
“Terrific constitutions … with great temperaments. I said to someone earlier in the week, they remind me a lot, back in the day, of the Danehills. They had that really relaxed, laid-back temperament, and I think there’s a bit of talk around a few of the other trainers saying the same thing.”
Berry, who has won three Golden Slippers, including with Stay Inside, was “pretty excited” by Pallaton.
“I’m tipping Michael didn’t tell you about his work on Tuesday morning, but they don’t work like that very often, not at two,” Berry said.
Zac Lloyd, who rode runner-up Chergui, pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge from the race.
Richard Freedman and his son, Will, also had a winner on the program, when Ang Pow beat stablemate Elettrica in the benchmark 100 handicap.
Cups in King’s sights
Qualifying for the Sydney Cup – then a Melbourne Cup campaign – was on the cards for Ciaron Maher-trained, King Charles-owned Gilded Water after he made light work of his opposition at Randwick.
The Fastnet Rock four-year-old, under Irish young gun Dylan Browne McMonagle, raced midfield then cruised past his rivals at the 300m mark on the way to a three-length victory in the benchmark 78 2400m race.
The demolition job, believed to be the first win for an English monarch at Royal Randwick, followed a first-up victory in Australia at Kembla Grange over 2000m.
Gilded Water racing to an easy win on Saturday at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
King Charles’ racing manager, John Warren, was thrilled with the efforts in Australia, which came after an injury in Gilded Water’s last of four UK runs.
“Ciaron has done such a lovely job getting him to this point, taking his time and just getting him acclimatised, and we are excited about his prospects. It’s really nice for the King,” Warren said.
“So now it’s up the maestro to see what he can conjure up to give the King and Queen a thrill in this country, which is the objective. I think the King wanted to be connected with Australia and a horse does that job.”
Maher said a couple of “quite prestigious” two-mile races were in the plans for the “very, very progressive” stayer.
“Where his rating is at, he’d nearly have to win his way in [to the Sydney Cup],” Maher said.
“So it’s one step at a time and there’s obviously no pressure with him.”
It was Browne McMonagle’s first time wearing the King’s colours and the win gave him a successful send-off to his second stint in Australia. He was returning home on Saturday night.
Kid handles the heat
Teenage English-based riding sensation Billy Loughnane got on the board in town with victory on John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Captain Amelia, and he’s hoping to get a few more over the festive season.
The 18-year-old Irish-born jockey, Britain’s champion apprentice in 2023, took the $20 shot from second last on the turn to win the benchmark 78 for fillies and mares over 1400m by a quarter of a length.
Dubbed “Billy The Kid” at home, Loughnane started his maiden stint in Australia on December 7 and had wins at Hawkesbury and Newcastle in the past week after a run of misses.
“It’s very hot, the hottest weather I’ve ridden in, but I’m really enjoying the challenge of riding around these tracks, and I’m learning a lot,” Loughnane said.
“Thankfully, I’ve managed to get one now at a bigger track, and hopefully we can get a few more.”
Loughnane plans to stay on in Sydney until the middle of January.
Deamer pulls right rein
Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer kept his options open with the rare, and perhaps unique, ploy to accept for three races with the one horse on the same program at Randwick on Saturday.
In the end, Deamer and Dynamic Syndications chose “the easiest” option, and Rapt delivered with a swooping run to win the Midway Handicap (1600m) on Saturday by one and a quarter lengths under a well-timed ride from Tim Clark.
“She’s not overly big, but she’s all heart, and she’s got a good little motor in there,” Deamer said.
The next option for Rapt was much simpler. The four–year-old will head to the Gold Coast to contest the $500,000 Magic Millions The Wave (1800m) at weight-for-age on January 4.
Baker in red-hot form
Arriving Home led in a quinella and Iowna Merc broke a drought at Randwick as Warwick Farm-trainer Bjorn Baker continued a hot streak for the stable.
Three-year-old filly Arriving Home made it two from two to start her career, after a midweek Warwick Farm win. She edged out stablemate Midnight Dynamite, which was chasing a cheque to qualify for the Magic Millions Guineas.
Iowna Merc later had his first win since June last year, nosing out Time To Boogie. It gave Tim Clark a riding double.
Baker’s double gave him 19 wins from his past 50 starters.
The purple patch includes a treble last week at Randwick, taking in Robusto’s The Ingham and Within The Law’s Inglis Nursery successes, and a double on Friday night at Canterbury.
