‘Extraordinary natural ability’ – Coolmore’s Wodeton to stand at Newgate Farm 

Two of Australia’s largest stallion operations, Coolmore and Newgate Farm, have come together in a landmark deal that will see the Golden Slipper-placed colt Wodeton find a home at stud in 2026.

The Coolmore syndicate, which raced the colt, has reached a deal with Henry Field’s Newgate to ensure that Wodeton is given a chance as a stallion and that the Wootton Bassett sireline is available to breeders in the Hunter Valley.

The addition of Wodeton, who will stand for an introductory fee of $16,500 (inc GST), ensures that Newgate Farm’s stallion roster of 16 will have a fresh face in 2026 in a year where there are few first season sires retiring.

The rising four-year-old, a juvenile winner at his first start before placings in last year’s Silver Slipper, Todman Stakes and Golden Slipper, demonstrated immense talent from the outset but was arguably plagued by bad luck in key races, which led to him attracting the ire of punters.

But Field believes Wodeton’s raw ability and the endorsement of the horse’s trainer Chris Waller carries plenty of weight.

“Chris Waller was adamant from an early stage that Wodeton was one of the best juveniles he has ever trained,” Field said.

“As a two-year-old, the stable made it clear in no uncertain terms that he simply breathed different air. 

“He demolished a quality field on debut and was denied Golden Slipper glory by the narrowest possible margin. He was the highest-rated colt of his generation and came within a nose of Australian racing immortality.

“In the Golden Slipper itself, he was desperately unlucky. He was held up at a crucial stage before charging home once clear, and there is little doubt that with uninterrupted running he wins the race.”

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier bought the Fairway Thoroughbreds-bred colt, who is out of Listed-winning Exceed And Excel mare Fiera Vista, for $1.6 million from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.

Fairway Thoroughbreds’ John Camilleri will join the breeding syndicate backing Wodeton at Newgate Farm.

“There is no doubting Wodeton possessed extraordinary natural ability,” Magnier said.

“He was one of the most beautiful yearlings you could wish to see and, importantly, he is by Wootton Bassett, a stallion who is very close to our hearts.

“Henry has been encouraging us for some time to work together on Wodeton and, given his belief in the horse, the relationship between our farms and our long-standing friendship, we felt this was the perfect opportunity.

“By combining the strengths of both operations, we believe Wodeton will be afforded every opportunity to fulfil his considerable potential as a stallion.”

It was Field’s Newgate-China Horse Club colts racing partnership which supplied Wootton Bassett with his first southern hemisphere-bred Group 1 winner, Queensland Derby scorer Providence.

Wootton Bassett is also the sire of southern hemisphere-conceived stakes winners West Of Swindon, Napoleonic, Pallaton and Excite.

Wodeton retires having raced 13 times at two and three.

Three of the late stallion’s 21 Group 1 winners – Almanzor (Cambridge Stud), Wooded (Swettenham Stud) and Royal Patronage (Darling View Thoroughbreds) – are standing at stud in Australia or New Zealand in 2026 with Wodeton’s retirement to add to breeders’ access to the potent sireline.

As much as Coolmore can lay claim to producing some of the world’s best horses, it is also regarded as a training ground for elite industry professionals as well.

Field is among the leading industry figures to have learnt the intricacies of the thoroughbred industry at Coolmore under the guidance of the Magnier family.

“I feel genuinely honoured that the Magnier family has given us the opportunity to be involved with Wodeton,” Field said. 

“Coolmore gave me extraordinary opportunities in the early stages of my career, and I will always be grateful for that. 

“To now stand a horse of Wodeton’s quality alongside them is incredibly meaningful to me.”

Wootton Bassett, who started his stud career in France before making his mark from relative obscurity to being the centre of an audacious Coolmore plot to secure him for dual-hemisphere duties in 2020, died suddenly in Australia last spring.