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By Ray Hickson

The moment of truth is creeping up on dual Group 1 placed colt Wodeton and trainer Chris Waller is hoping his return at Randwick on Saturday can put him on a path to an overdue win at the top level.

After kicking off his career with a blaze of glory just over a year ago the three-year-old has had some close calls, including seconds in the Golden Slipper and Golden Rose though he was safely held in the latter, but is yet to record win number two in eight subsequent starts.

Waller said on SEN all the signs are there that Wodeton is in for a big autumn and he’s expecting a preview in the Group 3 $250,000 Kia Ora Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

“He’s going pretty good, he worked well (Monday) morning. I’ve kept him pretty fresh but fit,’’ Waller said.

Trainer Chris Waller (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“He is a colt by Wootton Bassett and he just needs to tick off that big Group 1. He’s run second in a Golden Slipper and second in a Golden Rose so we have to win a Group 1 with him.

“With those good colts they normally get retired after the end of their three-year-old year so we try to win as many as we can before they get retired.”

Wodeton’s build up to his return is a shade different to how Waller approached the spring, he’s had the two trials as opposed to three, and if he runs up to the trainer’s hopes he’ll be Group 1 bound.

He’s not ruled out stretching the Coolmore colt, $5 with TAB on Thursday, out to 1400m or a bit further but is concentrating on the shorter trips at this stage of his preparation.

“He’s come back really well, he’s continued to develop and strengthen,’’ he said.

“He’ll go to the Newmarket after this race, he’ll be well weighted. We certainly chose not to run in the Lightning and the Newmarket will tell us a bit more.”

The Eskimo Prince is a race Waller hasn’t won before as is the case with the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) where he’s represented by Fireball and Defensemen.

Fireball, a $460,000 purchase, was a debut winner at Rosehill in late November and James McDonald, who won the Millennium last year, had his first feel of the youngster under race conditions when partnering him in his Randwick trial just over a week ago.

Defenseman set his owners back $1.4 million and has had the benefit of two race starts in the spring.

Waller said both colts have their share of ability and while Saturday’s race is restricted to Inglis purchases it’ll tell him more about where they stand in his pecking order.

“We’ve got five or six good two-year-olds and we’re finding out where they fit in,’’ he said.

“Fireball won a race at Rosehill quite impressively. He trialled up the other morning really good and he’s come back well.

“Defensemen had two runs, one in the Golden Gift and one before that and he was just in behind them. But he’s come back stronger.”

Adam Hyeronimus rides Defensemen with the stablemates drawn alongside each other.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick