After staking a last-minute claim for a slot in the Group 1 Everest (1200m) with an impressive win in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m), Coolmore’s colt Switzerland will instead head to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
“If it wasn’t a seven-day back-up, he would have run in The Everest; it’s as simple as that,” his trainer Chris Waller explained to Racing.com.
Waller, who has won the Coolmore Stud Stakes five times with stars like Zoustar and Brazen Beau, is confident that Switzerland—by Snitzel—has what it takes.
“He’s right up there with the best of them,” Waller said.
“A lot of the other colts announced themselves in the race, where he’s shown that he’s certainly got some pretty good talent.
“He’s quick, but he does things right, he can settle, so he’s pretty versatile. He’s good enough to win the race.”
Switzerland, who has exclusively raced in Sydney across his six-start career, impressed with a solid jumpout at Flemington on Friday under James McDonald.
Waller will also saddle Gatsby’s in the Coolmore, who completed the same jumpout as his stablemate.
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