The decision to run Golden Slipper placegetter Wodeton first-up in the San Domenico Stakes has been made with the big picture in mind as trainer Chris Waller plots the colt’s path towards an early Group One target.
While Waller is lukewarm on Wodeton’s chances of resuming with a win on Saturday, he says the race is a critical starting point in the three-year-old’s quest towards next month’s Golden Rose (1400m).
The trainer had Switzerland being aimed at the major 12 months ago, only for the horse to sustain a leg wound first-up in The Run To The Rose, causing him to miss his original aim and reroute to the Roman Consul and Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“If you just use The Run To The Rose as your lead-up race to the Golden Rose and you miss that you’re in trouble,” Waller said.
“It has happened a bit the last couple of years and we’ve been on the back foot and it is really hard to catch up.
“I’m sort of reluctant to be running over 1100 but I think it’s an important race for him towards the Golden Rose.”
One of the best two-year-olds of his generation, Wodeton was a $2.90 second pick for the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) on Thursday with untapped three-year-old Raging Force a $2.30 favourite.
Waller says Wodeton will need all the favours to win and he will be content to see the colt flashing to the line late.
“Rosehill is an 1100-metre specialist distance and we’re trying to set up his preparation so I want to do things properly and see him finishing off,” he said.
“For him to win, they’d have to overdo it in front.
“It’s like a 100-metre race. You can’t just come in behind them and get cover and then run down Usain Bolt.”
Former James Cummings-trained colt Beiwacht will make his debut for the stable in the San Domenico, although Waller is also cautious of his outside draw in a field reduced to eight by the scratching of Memo.
Beiwacht took out the Silver Slipper over the course and distance in the autumn but Waller said the son of Bivouac had bigger fish to fry.
“Although he is an 1100-metre, Group Two winner he is still a long way away from his big target,” Waller said.
“We will learn a bit more about him and that’s why we have kept Adam (Hyeronimus) on. Rather than bring in a new jockey, new trainer, we’ve just gone with the new trainer.”
Hyeronimus has partnered Beiwacht in four of his five starts and all three lead-up trials.
