Woodbine steps into Epsom frame

“Sensational looker, sensational pedigree & sensational run today.”

That was the tweeted verdict of trainer Gai Waterhouse after Woodbine’s fourth career victory over 1350 metres at Rosehill last Saturday.

The son of champion sire Hussonet and champion filly Miss Finland jumped well from barrier 14 and settled midfield with cover for Tommy Berry before peeling out on the turn, driving hard to the lead and galloping home strongly to hold out Amovatio by a short neck, with Murder of Crows a neck away in third place.

It was a performance that convinced his champion trainer to line him up in this Saturday’s $500,000 ATC Epsom H. G1 – a race she has already won seven times.

Waterhouse comments in her tip sheet on Woodbine’s chances in the great Randwick mile. “He is a very talented entire and he is only getting better and better. This is of course his biggest test to date, but he is not without a hope especially considering it is not every day you get a four-year-old in a Group One with just 52kg.”

Woodbine was sold for $750,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Blue Sky Thoroughbreds at the 2012 Inglis Easter Sale and is raced by Blue Sky in partnership with Jeremy Tan, David Paradice and his breeders Arrowfield, John Leaver & Alan Jones.

Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice-Forest Pearl by Woodman) has a 2YO filly by Street Cry, a yearling colt by More Than Ready and, around 17 hours before Woodbine’s latest win, a chestnut filly by Animal Kingdom.