Phillip Stokes appreciates his three-starting postcode limits bold talk for Stretan Ruler entering the Golden Slipper picture.
Still, the Pakenham conditioner feels primed to deliver Victoria an infrequent success in Sydney’s elite juvenile feature.
This Saturday, Stokes’ offspring of Wild Ruler tackles the $300,000 Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick as part of his $5 million Golden Slipper preparation.
Post his authoritative Silver Slipper conquest, Stretan Ruler lags Sydney hopes in Slipper markets sans equivalent ratings, which Stokes chalks up to location.
“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.”
Victory would mark Victoria’s first in the top two-year-old race since Crystal Lily’s 2010 win under Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra, set for Rosehill March 21.
David Hayes’ Miss Finland in 2006 stands as the only other Vic winner after Lee Freedman’s streak closed by Merlene in 1996.
Stokes bypassed the awkward barrier in Group 1 Blue Diamond for the February 21 Silver Slipper with Stretan Ruler.
The colt mastered the Sydney trip, winning by 3-1/2 lengths from Saturday rematch rival Eviction Notice.
Silver Slipper history last 30 years shows bigger wins solely by Mossfun (four lengths to 2014 Golden Slipper) and Amelia’s Dream (6-1/4 lengths, no Slipper).
Stokes indicated the run was the colt’s first Sydney-way exposure, ominous for competition.
“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.”
The Todman Stakes field of 11 sees Stretan Ruler in barrier four, near top Slipper prospect Paradoxium at five.
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