Trainer Chris Waller is in with a huge chance of saluting in the Golden Slipper Stakes this year following the outstanding win by his unbeaten colt Switzerland in Randwick’s Todman Stakes 2024 results.

2024 Todman Stakes winner Switzerland has firmed in Golden Slipper betting to go back-to-back for trainer Chris Waller. Photo: Steve Hart.

Jockey James McDonald has a big decision to make ahead of the $4.92 million Group 1 Golden Slipper in a fortnight having partnered the two best chances in the event across the past two weekends.

Last Saturday he rode the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy to victory in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) with ease.

This weekend on Randwick Guineas Day he was back in the winners’ stall taking out the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) on another exciting Coolmore-raced colt, Switzerland.

The son of Snitzel made it three-from-three heading into the world’s richest race for two-year-olds when handling his first Group race assignment with ease.

“It makes the next two weeks that little bit easier to know you’re on target. For a coach, it makes it a little bit easier,” Waller told Sky Racing Thoroughbred post-win.

“If you’re running second and thirds, you’re scratching your head and wondering, what do I have to do to get a bit of improvement out of a horse.

“What I will be doing for the next two weeks is keeping things simple.”

Switzerland improved notably on his last run and was given a perfectly timed ride in the Todman by J-Mac.

The Waterhouse & Bott-trained race favourite Straight Charge ($2.80F) mustered early to take up front running and got out to a two-length lead on the home straight.

Switzerland ($3.60) was soon on the scene however giving charge, digging in late come home hard and run over the top of the beaten favourite.

The Todman Stakes winner relished a step up in both class and distance eating up the 1200m and enjoying the speed in the race.

He asserted his superiority late and put the writing on the wall for a significant Slipper bid with Waller chasing back-to-back victories after his 2023 win with Shinzo.

“They’re very well bred, good connections, as most of our stable are,” Waller said when making comparisons between Switzerland and Shinzo.

“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.

“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.”

In a brave third was another on-speed runner from the Waterhouse/Bott stable in Shangri La Express ($14) who looks to be crying out for the 1400m ahead of a likely shot at the Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires’ on April 6.

Farnan (2020) was the last horse to complete the Todman Stakes – Golden Slipper Stakes double.

Updated all-in 2024 Golden Slipper odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Switzerland into $6 second favouritism to be the next with Storm Boy still the dominant $2.40 top elect in pre-field markets.

McDonald however suggested he was leaning towards Switzerland in the big one.

“He’s a proper little racehorse,” he said of the Todman champ.

“He just turns up and does his job. There’s no riff-raff with him. He’s so economical, he’s got the best attitude and that takes him a long way.

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

“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.”

Click here for the full all-in Golden Slipper odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 Todman Stakes Race Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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