McDonald tips Wodeton to peak for emotional group 1

1 hour ago 1

By Craig Kerry

September 25, 2025 — 4.00pm

Premier jockey James McDonald is adamant Wodeton is primed to deliver on his group 1 promise in the Golden Rose (1400m) on Saturday and give Coolmore an emotional win following the loss of the colt’s champion sire, Wootton Bassett, this week.

The racing world was rocked on Tuesday by the death of the British-bred stallion at age 17 from pneumonia while at Coolmore Australia standing for a national record service fee of $385,000.

James McDonald rides Wodeton to an easy win at Rosehill on debut in January.

McDonald took John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained colt Napoleonic, a son of Wootton Bassett, to victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, and he was excited about the chances of Wodeton landing a far greater success on Saturday at Rosehill.

Wodeton, one of four Chris Waller-trained runners in the $1 million Golden Rose, has one win from seven starts, but has never finished outside the top four and was only a head away in second in the Golden Slipper.

He was unlucky first up this preparation when cut out late in the group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m), then was caught wide from a tricky gate when fourth in the group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m).

After drawing gate one for Saturday’s Golden Rose, McDonald is confident Wodeton is ready to fire.

Wodeton (right) finishes second to Marhoona (green and white silks) in the Golden Slipper.

“He’ll run super,” said McDonald, who rides regularly for the powerhouse Coolmore operation.

“He’s a very good colt and he looks an absolute picture. His coat is just immaculate, so you can just see him peaking for this day, and 1400 is a big plus for him. And barrier one’s a huge asset to him as well.

“He’s had no luck this prep, and he’s ready for a peak performance.

“The father has sadly passed away, so it would be an extremely great result for all concerned if he could win.

“He’s a group 1 colt every day of the week. He just needs to get it done.”

Super sire Wootton Bassett died at Coolmore Australia on Tuesday.

Wodeton is $5.50 with Sportsbet, which had Run To The Rose winner and the only filly in the race, Tempted, as the $2.90 favourite. The Ciaron Maher-trained State Visit ($67) will be another progeny of Wootton Bassett in the race.

Waller also has Autumn Boy ($5, gate seven), Beiwacht ($9, two) and Sixties ($14, four) in the Golden Rose, and he found them hard to split after the draw.

“They’ve all drawn well; they’ve all drawn to suit,” Waller said. “If I could have picked their draws, I would have picked close to them.”

Autumn Boy (right) runs second to Sixties last start in the Ming Dynasty at Rosehill.

Waller has added blinkers to Autumn Boy, which stormed home for second to Sixties last start in the Ming Dynasty. Wodeton has switched from winkers to blinkers, and both colts worked in them on Tuesday.

“He’s had winkers on the last few runs, and he raced really well with them,” he said of Wodeton.

“And it’s good to see he’s drawn well. The draw cost him winning the Sires’ Produce, and it probably cost him a bit in a couple of other runs as well.”

McDonald is back aboard another exciting colt, Beadman, on Saturday.

The Peter Snowden-trained son of Snitzel resumes in the listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) for three-year-olds. McDonald rode Beadman, named after riding great Darren Beadman, to a last-start eight-length win in the group 3 Ken Russell Memorial (1200m) at the Gold Coast in May.

McDonald pushed him to the line to win his second trial back at Randwick, and he expects him to build off Saturday’s first-up run. From gate 10, he is $4.20.

“He’s a very exciting horse, a big, strong colt,” McDonald said. “He’ll improve, but he’s there to run extremely well and he’s got great talent. I’d expect him to be fighting out the finish.”

Beadman was touted as a potential Everest runner after the huge win on the Gold Coast. Part-owner Newgate has since gone with Overpass for its slot, which it holds with GPI Racing. Snowden said Beadman still had a lot to learn.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Snowden said. “He’s got it all ahead of him, and he’s got some big wraps to live up to, which I don’t like, but he is a nice horse.

“He’s still very raw yet. Very raw. He will be a lot better for this preparation, when he’s had a few more runs.”

Snowden also has Akaysha ($4.80) in the Heritage. She was a close second to My Gladiola first up in listed company at Flemington two weeks ago.

“She’s a good filly, and she’s the only one to beat Beadman,” he said. “Then she came to town and just got beat a head Randwick. She went to Scone and ran third in that stakes race and had no luck there.

“She was first up the other day and was in it the whole race. She’s got a good draw, no weight. She’s got a chance there.”