Well-bred Namaste beats leading Slipper hope Wodeton in trial
Namaste (Savabeel), a $525,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for his trainer Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) claimed the notable scalp of leading Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) fancy Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) when he ran out a 0.3-length winner of a Warwick Farm trial over 799 metres on Friday.
The son of Savabeel (Zabeel) defeated Wodeton, who was the highest-priced colt from the first southern hemisphere crop of Wootton Bassett when selling to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $1.6 million at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Namaste, who notched a time of 46.98 seconds, is out of the winning High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) mare Alam Mo Na, herself a daughter of Group 3-winning sprinter Queen Of The Hill (Danehill), who is a half-sister to Group 1-winning sire Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago).
Wodeton is the second foal of Listed winner Fiera Vista (Exceed And Excel), herself a half-sister to Kewney Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) winner Empress Rock (Fastnet Rock).
The opening juvenile heat on Friday went the way of the Godolphin homebred colt Beiwacht (Bivouac), who improved on his prior trials to beat Fierceness (Fierce Impact) by 0.8 lengths over 799 metres in a time of 47.21 seconds.
Beiwacht is a half-brother to stakes scorer Gravina (Sebring) being out of the stakes-winning Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Metastasio, herself a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Colette (Hallowed Crown).
Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald’s Giddy Girl (Written Tycoon) was the only filly to land one of Friday’s four trials, defeating previous trial winner Iniesta (Farnan) by 0.7 lengths in a time of 47.19 seconds for the 799-metre heat.
Giddy Girl was a $320,000 purchase from Coolmore for Annabel Neasham Ladies and William Johnson Bloodstock at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she is the fourth foal to come out of the stakes-placed Denman (Lonhro) mare Kanga’s Eye.
Meanwhile, the fourth and final juvenile heat was won by the Rodney Northam-trained Splash Of Steel (Winning Rupert), who defeated The Agent (Harry Angel) by 1.7 lengths in 46.81 seconds.