Waller delves into bag of tricks for Wodeton in Golden Slipper

Wodeton may have suffered two straight losses, but that hasn’t stopped him from holding onto favoritism for the Golden Slipper. However, trainer Chris Waller is making key adjustments to improve his chances at Rosehill on Saturday.

Wodeton will be equipped with winkers for the first time, and Waller has advised a more conservative ride after the colt finished second in the Todman Stakes when positioned close to the speed.

Waller is confident a patient approach will allow Wodeton to finish his races more effectively.

“When it came time to let down, he didn’t have that burst of acceleration,” Waller said.

“Now that he has three runs under his belt, we’ve realized he’s better suited to being held up early before producing a strong late finish.

“We’ve been working on this in training, and he has responded well.”

The introduction of winkers is intended to keep Wodeton engaged during the closing stages while ensuring he remains composed early in the race.

“They’re there to help him focus, especially late in the race,” Waller said.

“We want him to settle in the first half, and the winkers should help him zero in when it matters most.”

Trainer Bjorn Baker is sticking to his tried-and-true methods with Within The Law, a filly who has won three of her four starts, including a come-from-behind victory in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).

She has drawn an outside gate in barrier 13, but Baker remains unfazed, trusting that her relaxed temperament will allow jockey Jason Collett to get her into a good rhythm.

“I trained O’Ole for the Magic Millions, and she had natural speed from the start. Within The Law is the opposite—she’s incredibly laid-back,” Baker said.

“She’s calm in her morning gallops, only does what she needs to, and I think that’s a great quality going into a pressure race like the Slipper.”

Peter Snowden is hoping for a surprise result with Quietly Arrogant, who finished third in the Skyline Stakes (1200m), behind unbeaten colt Rivellino and Pago Pago Stakes winner Skyhook.

The son of 2016 Golden Slipper champion Capitalist has been kept fresh for Saturday’s race, with Snowden confident in his recent progress.

“He runs best when he’s had time between races,” Snowden said.

“He won first-up at the Gold Coast, then had a short break before the Magic Millions, where he put in a huge run fresh.

“He’s got an explosive turn of foot, and in an open field like this, that could make all the difference.”