Search

Stunning Switzerland gets serious ahead of Slipper

Switzerland has laid down a Golden Slipper challenge to dominant favourite Storm Boy with an outstanding Todman Stakes victory.

SWITZERLAND winning the UNSW TODMAN STAKES at Randwick in Australia.
SWITZERLAND winning the UNSW TODMAN STAKES at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

Tom Magnier's phone began buzzing shortly after Switzerland barnstorming Todman Stakes win at Randwick and he didn't need to look to know who was calling.

"Ryan (Moore) is awake at home watching this race right now," Magnier said.

"I could feel my phone buzzing after the race, which was probably him."

The Coolmore Australia supremo faces a crucial decision this week as he looks to lock in the Golden Slipper riders for their two star colts, Switzerland and nominal favourite Storm Boy, with James Mcdonald to partner one and star English hoop Ryan Moore the other.

With McDonald in the saddle for Switzerland's Todman Stakes (1200m) win on Saturday, Moore made sure that while out of sight, he wasn't out of mind.

Either way, Coolmore is in the box seat to win a second successive Golden Slipper after Shinzo victory last year and Magnier is in no rush to make a decision on jockeys.

"Let's go home, and let's enjoy today," Magnier said.

"We'll have a discussion with all the partners and all the various people, but you've got two world-class horses and two world-class jockeys so it's a great problem to have."

Switzerland ($3.60) was outstanding in the Todman, settling off the speed and sustaining a strong run down the outside to power home over the top of Straight Charge ($2.80 fav) and score by a length with another 1-1/4 lengths back to Shangri La Express ($14).

McDonald, who also partnered Storm Boy to his last-start Skyline Stakes win, was left in awe of the Chris Waller-trained colt, so much so that he was moved to declare Switzerland the horse to beat in the Slipper.

"He surprised me today. I thought that was an extremely good field and he won with a bit of authority in the end," McDonald said.

"I felt like I was really building to my top level right at the end, so he sustained a great gallop and he's definitely the one to beat in the Slipper."

Storm Boy remained a solid $2.30 Golden Slipper favourite, while Switzerland firmed into a clear $5 second pick following his Todman Stakes performance.

Waller, who teamed with Coolmore to win the juvenile feature last year with Shinzo, says Switzerland is still open to further improvement ahead of his grand final.

While reluctant to compare him to Shinzo, he admits Switzerland has had a smoother preparation.

"Shinzo got there at the last minute, he won the week before, whereas this horse has had a more planned preparation through his great ability," Waller said.

"Today's field was as good a field as I've seen leading into a Slipper for a while and hopefully the form stacks up in two weeks' time."

Tim Clark was happy with the performance of Straight Charge, who received mid-race pressure in the lead but kept trying right to the line.

"He was having a good time of it until a bit of pressure mid-stages from horses that finished out the back, so I thought his effort to hang on and just go down was pretty solid," Clark said.

Espionage ($4) finished fifth but jockey Nash Rawiller said nothing went right for him from a wide draw and he could improve with a better barrier in the Slipper.