By Craig Kerry
Trainer Michael Hawkes feels West Of Swindon has become the forgotten horse in Golden Slipper discussion, but he’s confident that won’t be the case after the group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
West Of Swindon has drawn gate one for the $300,000 race, which also features $3 Sportsbet favourite for the Golden Slipper and fellow Wootton Bassett colt Wodeton.
West Of Swindon, with Tyler Schiller aboard, comes down the outside to finish second in the Golden Gift at Rosehill in November.Credit: Getty Images
Bel Merci and North England, which sit on the second line of betting for the $5 million race on March 22 at $11, add even more depth to the Silver Slipper.
West Of Swindon, $17 for the Golden Slipper, put forward his credentials when coming from second last to finish a half-length runner-up to North England in the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) on debut at Rosehill on November 9.
He came from gate eight of nine in that race, and Hawkes believes a better draw and improvement from the colt since a spell have him primed for Saturday. His sharp turn of foot was on display in a trial at Randwick on February 13 when he was held up briefly before accelerating through a gap to finish second.
The Chris Waller-trained Wodeton ($2.25), which lived up to the hype on debut with a four-length win at Rosehill on January 18, has drawn the outside barrier of 11. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s North England ($6) has 10, while the John Thompson-prepared Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci ($4) has two.
“It’s a big bonus when you draw inside, and he’s a quality colt,” said Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father, John, and brother, Wayne.
“Had he drawn a barrier first up, he would have just won, but he had to go back from a bad gate.
“Drawing a better barrier, he’ll be a lot closer, and he’s going to be very hard to beat.”
Wodeton was among the contenders to emerge during West Of Swindon’s 14-week let-up following his debut. Hawkes expects West Of Swindon to push his claims again, saying “he has improved a lot”.
“He’s a bit of the forgotten horse at the moment, but even Wodeton, you’ve got to come out and see their second start, which we are yet to do; Bel Merci, too,” he said.
“I know North England has, but they are all good at their first start, and they’ve got to come out and do it again.
“He’s had a break, he’s been in the paddock and he has fresh legs. He’s got a long prep ahead of him, and it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. But it’s a starting point, and he’s good.”
Waller was also pleased with Wodeton’s lead in to the Silver Slipper, which included a nice trial at Warwick Farm on February 11.
“He had a week back at Coolmore then steady work to the trial, keeping him fresh at the same time as making sure he’s not getting away from us,” Waller said.
“He has always shown us talent from day one. We thought he would be hard to beat first up, but not win in the manner that he did.”
As for the wide gate on Saturday, he said: “There’s a lot of speed in the race. He is a pretty sensible horse, and he’s got enough speed to get himself out of trouble if he needs to.”
Kerrin McEvoy has picked up the ride on Wodeton from James McDonald, who is away piloting Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup. Tyler Schiller has the job again on West Of Swindon, and on the Hawkes-trained chances in the other features at Rosehill.
The best of those is Makarena, a $2.05 favourite from gate eight in the group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m). The Gold Pendant winner finished her spring campaign with fourth in the $10 million Golden Eagle and worked to the line for a trial win at Randwick on February 13.
“It’s a nice starting point, she’s done everything right,” Hawkes said.
“She’s drawn a touch awkward, but she’s the best mare in the race. She can’t do anything wrong at the moment and is on an improving path, so she’s going to be hard to beat.
“There’s plenty of races for her: the Canterbury Stakes after this, the Coolmore, Doncaster, Queen of the Turf are all there, but it’s all about how she starts.”
Foujita San will need a scratching to make the Parramatta Cup field, while Swiftfalcon was a $20 chance from gate nine resuming in the group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
“We can’t do much about it, he’s got to run,” he said of Swiftfalcon’s gate. “He’s going really good, his trial was great, I can’t fault him. He just needs some luck.”
