Golden Slipper placegetter Wodeton will resume in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) on Saturday as Chris Waller maps out a spring campaign designed to peak in the Golden Rose (1400m) next month.

Waller admitted he isn’t overly confident about Wodeton winning first-up over the short trip but stressed that the San Domenico was crucial to building the colt’s preparation properly.

He pointed to the example of Switzerland last year, who suffered a setback in The Run To The Rose and had to be diverted to the Roman Consul and Coolmore Stud Stakes instead.

“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.”

Wodeton was listed at $2.90 as the second pick for the San Domenico on Thursday behind Raging Force ($2.30). Waller said his main focus was seeing the colt finish off strongly late rather than winning first-up.

“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,” Waller 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.”

The stable will also debut Beiwacht, formerly trained by James Cummings, in the San Domenico. Winner of the Silver Slipper earlier this year, he will have regular rider Adam Hyeronimus aboard despite drawing wide.

“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.”

Punters can find the best odds and specials on Wodeton and Beiwacht in the San Domenico Stakes across Australia’s top betting sites.