James Cummings believes a positive last-start experience will hold Traffic Warden in good stead when the colt flies the flag for Godolphin in the $5 million Golden Slipper.
After having little luck from a wide draw when midfield in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) two starts ago, Traffic Warden made the running and sustained his effort to the line to take out the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
With the Melbourne form lines stacking up at Rosehill last weekend through Dublin Down’s Pago Pago Stakes victory and Drifting’s Magic Night Stakes success, Cummings is warming to Traffic Warden running a competitive race in the Golden Slipper.
“I think it will do his confidence some good,” Cummings said of the Sires’ Produce Stakes win.
“It was a big wake up call for the horse. He got asked for the same pace up to seven furlongs (1400m), it will increase his fitness and I think his professionalism had been lacking and that might have put a polished edge on the horse.
“He is going to need to elevate a couple of levels to be competitive with these good horses in the Slipper, but now he’s got that solid seven-furlong run under his belt – and there is nothing wrong with the Blue Diamond form – there’s every reason to think he’s a legitimate runner’s chance in the race.”
Cummings has been further buoyed by Traffic Warden’s draw in barrier six.
The Street Boss youngster, who will be ridden by Craig Williams, has jumped from double-figure alleys at his past two starts and with favourite Storm Boy coming out of gate two and second elect Switzerland from seven, Cummings says Traffic Warden has drawn around the right horses.
“The most important thing about barriers is not how far away from the rail you’ve drawn, it’s about how far you’ve drawn away from the ‘race’,” Cummings said.
“I feel like we’ve drawn close to the rail, and close to the race to give Traffic Warden every opportunity to be making the elevation required to be a competitive chance.
“Craig (Williams) has got the option to put the colt into the race. He’s only been put into two races, and he’s won both of them.”
Cummings and Williams will both be hunting their second Golden Slipper wins.
The Godolphin head trainer captured the feature in 2019 when Kiamichi led home a trifecta for owner Sheikh Mohammed, while Williams was successful aboard Miss Finland in 2006.
