Golden Slipper on the horizon for Todman Stakes runner Trekking

Trekking will get a chance to justify trainer John O’Shea’s rating of the colt when he strives to cement a Golden Slipper spot when he runs in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Hong Kong based jockey Zac Purton, above, rides Trekking in the Todman Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

O’Shea is very close to rating Trekking as the best Godolphin two year old for 2017 and a win on the weekend will see him cement a spot in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18.

“He had a little setback early in the preparation so he’s first up in the Todman,” O’Shea said.

“He is one of our better colts, if not the best.

“He worked brilliantly here on Tuesday morning.”

Trekking has drawn off the track in barrier twelve in the fourteen horse Todman Stakes field with Hong Kong based jockey Zac Purton in the saddle.

O’Shea will also saddle up smart colt Veranillo in the Todman Stakes who will jump from barrier four with Brenton Avdulla to ride.

The prospect a of very heavy track on Saturday or even the chance of the Randwick Guineas meeting being called off following rain all week, has seen O’Shea enter Trekking for the Group 3 $300,000 Mercedes-Benz Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on Sunday.

“He is also in the Black Opal in Canberra on Sunday if we think it’s too wet at Randwick,” O’Shea said.

Trekking has only been to the races on one occasion for a win in an 1100m 2yo Plate at Rosehill on December 3 while Veranillo is much more advanced with two wins and a second from three starts.

Veranillo won on debut in an 1100m 2yo Handicap at Rosehill on November 12 and then after a short break scored again in the Listed $125,000 Hinchinbrook Plate (1100m) at Randwick on February 4.

At his third race start the Medaglio D’Oro colt ran a solid second to Golden Slipper favourite She Will Reign in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 18.

O’Shea said that Veranillo has pulled up well and should have no problems handling the wet conditions.

“He ran very well at his last start and he’s trained on nicely,” O’Shea said.

“I’m pretty sure he’ll be good in the ground being by Medaglia D’Oro.”

The Gerald Ryan trained Menari is the short priced favourite at $2.90 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Todman Stakes with O‘Shea’s two colts next in the betting with Trekking at $7 and Veranillo at $8.

Trekking has drawn barrier two in the Black Opal Stakes with Brenton Avdulla booked to ride and the Street Cry colt is marked as a $12 chance while in Golden Slipper betting Trekking is listed at $17 and Veranillo a $21 chance.