With a postcode prefixed by three, Phillip Stokes tempers his confidence in Stretan Ruler for the Golden Slipper battle.
Yet the Pakenham trainer is assured his strategy positions him well for a rare Victorian breakthrough in Sydney’s juvenile crown jewel.
Stokes’ Wild Ruler colt steps up to the $5 million Golden Slipper via the $300,000 Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) this Saturday at Randwick.
Following a standout Silver Slipper domination, Stretan Ruler is overlooked in Golden Slipper ante-post markets by unrated locals, a point Stokes concedes stems from origins.
“I’m tipping it’s because we’re not a Sydney trainer,” he said.
“A Melbourne horse hasn’t won it for a long time, that’s how hard it is to do, but we’ve given the horse every chance by getting up there early.
“Chad Schofield came out and galloped him on Saturday at Rosehill and he was really happy with him.
“We couldn’t be happier with the horse.”
He hopes to emulate Crystal Lily, the last Victorian winner in 2010 by Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra, for the March 21 Rosehill two-year-old showpiece.
Miss Finland (David Hayes, 2006) was the prior Vic success after Lee Freedman’s sequence finished with Merlene in 1996.
Avoiding an external draw in the Group 1 Blue Diamond, Stokes targeted the February 21 Silver Slipper for the colt.
Stretan Ruler relished Sydney, clearing Eviction Notice – Saturday foe anew – by 3-1/2 lengths.
Over 30 Silver Slippers, just Mossfun (four lengths, 2014 Golden Slipper path) and Amelia’s Dream (6-1/4 lengths, Slipper absentee) exceeded that.
Rivals note warily Stokes’ view of it as the colt’s Sydney directional initiation.
“I’m pleased we didn’t go to the Blue Diamond because he then had plenty of time to get up there and get used to going that way around, because he hadn’t been that way around before he went to the races,” he said.
“He’s going to take a lot of natural improvement out of that.”
Barrier four awaits Stretan Ruler in the 11-horse Todman Stakes, with Paradoxium, a Slipper market leader, in five.
Head to trusted racing betting markets for the latest Todman Stakes options.
