Champion jockey James McDonald believes barrier one would be ideal for Switzerland in the Golden Slipper on Saturday

“If the rain comes this week for Switzerland then watch out!” James McDonald is wishing for an inside barrier and a bit of rain for the Coolmore colt in Saturday’s Golden Slipper.

Switzerland wins the Todman Stakes.

Champion jockey James McDonald showed his appreciation of Golden Slipper history when declaring he wants Switzerland to draw as close as possible to the inside rail for his showdown with Storm Boy in the world’s richest two-year-old race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The all-important Slipper barrier draw is Tuesday morning with McDonald hopeful the Chris Waller-trained Switzerland is allocated gate one.

“The lower (barrier) the better - I don’t mind one for Switzerland,’’ McDonald said.

“If the rain comes this week for Switzerland then watch out! A nice, soft 6 track would be perfect for him.’’

In the last 30 years, barrier one has been the most successful starting position in the Golden Slipper with nine wins including Fireburn (2022) and Shinzo (2023).

McDonald has ridden both unbeaten Coolmore colts and race favourites Storm Boy ($2.30) and Switzerland ($4.50) to their last start wins but is on Waller’s two-year-old in Saturday’s $5 million race.

Coolmore is bringing their contracted jockey, English superstar Ryan Moore, to Sydney this week to ride Storm Boy in the Golden Slipper.

J-Mac will don the Coolmore silks in the Golden Slipper.

Storm Boy was slow to begin under McDonald in the Skyline Stakes before the colt gathered speed, raced to the early lead and gave nothing else a chance to win his fourth race from as many starts.

This has led to some conjecture Storm Boy might have trouble taking advantage of an inside barrier early in the Golden Slipper given the race is always run at a frenetic tempo and there is so much pressure coming from out wide.

Remaining unbeaten, the @CoolmoreAus & partners raced Snitzel colt Switzerland highlighted his class by winning the Gr2 Todman Stakes with something in hand for @cwallerracing & @mcacajamez.@ArrowfieldStud@inglis_sales@Sunline129@ColmSantry@TomMagnier@[e-mail]/uxqLoQyRkt

— Black Type Racing (@BreedingRacing) March 9, 2024

But McDonald dismissed this theory, explaining that Storm Boy was “a little fresh” for the Skyline which contributed to the colt’s tardy getaway.

“I think people are reading too much into Storm Boy’s start the other day,’’ McDonald said.

“He is not a bad beginner. If he draws the rails, he will be fine. I don’t think it is a big issue at all.’’

J-Mac returns to scale after winning on Switzerland.

McDonald rode his 90th Group 1 winner on the Waller-trained Zougotcha in the Coolmore Classic last Saturday and he has an outstanding book of big-race rides for Slipper Day.

Zougotcha was the middle leg of a treble or McDonald as he also won on Lindermann (Sky High Stakes) and Democracy Manifest (Ajax Stakes) to move to 56 wins for the season and equal leader in the Sydney jockey premiership with Jason Collett, and Nash Rawiller is next on 55 wins.

Understandably, McDonald is in demand on Golden Slipper and his confirmed big-race rides are Waller’s boom imported mare Via Sistina in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Godolphin sprinter Aft Cabin in the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m).

McDonald is booked to ride Militarize in the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) but Waller has also entered the outstanding colt for the Ranvet Stakes and Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

If Militarize starts in the Guineas, McDonald is likely to be on Kovalica in the George Ryder.

J-Mac’s likely Golden Slipper Day rides

Golden Slipper: Switzerland ($4.50)

Ranvet Stakes: Via Sistina ($3.50)

George Ryder Stakes: Kovalica ($8)

The Galaxy: Aft Cabin ($6)

Rosehill Guineas: Militarize ($3.80)

#Betting from TAB Fixed Odds

Originally published as Champion jockey James McDonald believes barrier one would be ideal for Switzerland in the Golden Slipper on Saturday