A bulked-up Switzerland will bid to open his spring account with a bang when he headlines his stable’s two-pronged attack on The Run To The Rose at Rosehill.
After a brief flirtation with stepping him out in last month’s San Domenico Stakes (1100m), trainer Chris Waller opted to stick to his original plan and send Switzerland into Saturday’s Run To The Rose (1200m) first-up.
He is content with that decision and says the colt is in great shape physically and ready to go following two barrier trials and an exhibition gallop between races at Warwick Farm last week.
He will need to be given the quality of the Run To The Rose field which features boom colt Storm Boy, Everest contender Bustling and Group 1 placegetters Traffic Warden and Linebacker.
“I’m really happy with how he looks,” Waller said of Switzerland.
“He is about a twenty-kilo heavier animal, strengthened up all round and grown taller, too. It’s exciting to have him back.
“His only defeat was in the Golden Slipper where he pulled up with a niggle, but we have got that sorted now and he has come back well.”
Switzerland raced four times at two, stringing together a hat-trick of wins culminating in his Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) success.
He finished midfield in the Slipper and is on a path to the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at the end of the month.
Stablemate Emirate will also have an opportunity to press for Golden Rose inclusion when he steps up to black-type grade for the first time in Saturday’s race.
The colt made a big impression with back-to-back victories during the off-season and after being scratched due to a wide gate as an emergency for a benchmark race last Saturday, Waller decided to give him an opportunity at Rosehill.
“We are getting to the stage where they have to run,” he said.
“Emirate has come back well. It is hard to gauge mid-winter form – where he was dominant – up against these topliners.
“He will improve with the run. Hopefully he can run top-four and we will press on to the Golden Rose.”
Gatsby’s was also nominated for The Run To The Rose but wasn’t among the acceptances with Waller leaning towards directing him to the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) on September 28.
