Waller confident he has the key to Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton

Champion trainer Chris Waller believes he has found the key to Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton, which should get every chance to prove him right on Saturday after drawing gate two in the $5 million race at Rosehill.

Wodeton remained at the top of betting markets after landing the favourable barrier on Tuesday for Saturday’s richest race for two-year-olds.

The Wootton Bassett colt, to be ridden by the world’s No.1 jockey, James McDonald, has led markets since a dominant win on debut at Rosehill on January 18. He has narrowly held on to favouritism after a third in the Silver Slipper Stakes and second in the Todman Stakes and remained at $4.50 with Sportsbet on Tuesday, just ahead of Tempted ($5).

The Godolphin filly, a last-start winner in the Reisling Stakes, was another big winner at the draw, getting barrier one. Godolphin trainer James Cummings also has Beiwacht in the race, but he was at $51 after drawing 16.

Wodeton, a $1.6 million purchase by racing giant Coolmore at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, was a Golden Slipper fancy off two trials before his first start, and he surged into favouritism after an effortless win.

However, the boom on Wodeton has waned, especially after his most recent start when given every chance only to go down to Tentyris, which was injured in the run and will miss the Slipper.

James McDonald riding Wodeton to an easy win at Rosehill on debut.Credit: Getty Images

Waller has taken blinkers off Wodeton and opted for winkers on Saturday in a bid to have him hitting the line at his peak at 1200m.

“We started the preparation trying to get three runs before the Golden Slipper and trying to learn as much as we could about him with each run,” Waller said.

“First run this prep he got very keen and we just wanted to switch him off the next run, and he did – but then it was time to ask him to quicken, and it wasn’t quite there.

“So I think now he’s had the three races under his belt, we’ve learnt that he can just be ridden that touch more conservative – put the handbrake on and let him finish off.

Racing NSW chief steward Steve Railton holds up Wodeton’s gate number at the Golden Slipper barrier draw at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday.Credit: Nick Moir

“We’ve done that in a couple of his track workouts, and they’ve been very good. So, ride him more conservative. He’s had the race starts, and he comes in well-educated and very fit.

“We didn’t go with the full blinkers, we’ve just gone winkers – just to help him concentrate probably more the second half of the race. We want him to switch off and relax and the winkers will help that, and then make him focus the last 400.”

McDonald worked Wodeton in winkers on Monday morning in a gallop alongside stablemate Kovalica, and the jockey was full of praise.

Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, said the “beautiful draw” in two “takes pressure off”.

Waller has won 14th consecutive Sydney premierships but just the one Golden Slipper, in 2023 with Shinzo.

“It just puts so much value into bloodstock to start with,” Waller said of the race. “If you’ve got a horse who can win, run second or third, their value just goes through the roof.

“Quadruple would be underestimating it, as well as its siblings, as well as our careers. It’s your platform for your advertising for the next two, three. If you are known as a Golden Slipper trainer, it certainly helps at the yearling sales and it helps confidence grow. There’s so many spin-offs.”

The Godolphin team was expected to have three runners but they did not accept with Aleppo Pine, paving the way for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to have a third runner, Farcited, in the 16-horse field.

Co-trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s two runners had mixed fortunes at the draw. Black Opal Stakes winner King Of Pop ($31) blew in betting after drawing the extreme outside, while Skyhook was third favourite at $8.50 after getting eight.

Scone trainer Brett Cavanough’s Alabama Magic, coming from 54th in the ballot, was first emergency. Former professional bull rider Braith Nock, the only apprentice in the field, was down to ride Alabama Magic if she gets a start. The Hawkes training team, who have Devil Night (11) and West Of Swindon (four) in the field, also have second emergency, Nepotism.