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By Ray Hickson

Premier trainer Chris Waller is confident he’s done his job in preparing his Golden Rose quartet of Wodeton, Autumn Boy, Beiwacht and Sixties for a race on Saturday that will change the life of one of them if they’re good enough to win.

Trainer Chris Waller (Pic: Bradley Photos).

You’d call it a good problem to have – four in-form, fit, colts chasing a win in the Group 1 $1m Yulong Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill that secures a future at stud.

But in a field of nine three-year-olds there’s one filly, early favourite Tempted, standing in the way of eight colts chasing the pot of gold.

Waller said each of his boys have, he believes, had their lead up runs at the right time in the right races to give each their best chance of winning.

“I think we have four winning chances, and only one of them can win,’’ Waller said.

“It’s more about race fitness and mileage and having them prepared. I think they need to run two weeks before or you’re on the back foot.

“They need to be rock hard fit and I think the lead up runs suited each horse.”

Coolmore colt Wodeton and Godolphin colt Beiwacht come through the traditional lead-up of the Run To The Rose, two weeks ago, where they finished fourth and second respectively behind Tempted.

Waller, who has won the Golden Rose three times, said both would be placed to advantage from inside barriers and they’ve landed in one and two.

Wodeton sat three wide in the Run To The Rose and Waller said he couldn’t have performed any better under the circumstances. In his only run over 1400m, in the Sires’ earlier this year, he was also trapped wide from an outside gate.

“He was terrific second-up, he was three wide no cover which is never easy,’’ he said.

“He’s come back really well, he’s taken the step from a two-year-old to three-year-old which is the only step I’m really looking for.

“His big races will come and barrier draws are all important.

“The 1400m looks ideal, it’s a stallion making race and he missed narrowly in the Golden Slipper. So hopefully we can get some retaliation.”

What Beiwacht showed Waller in his game second two weeks ago was that 1400m isn’t beyond him, especially given his sire Bivouac won the Rose in 2019.

“Why is he running over 1400? Because we have confidence in him that he can settle,’’ he said.

“Sure he’ll be on pace but I’ve been really impressed with each of his runs.

“He stuck on gamely to beat all the boys home in the Run To The Rose, only beaten by Tempted who I think is a proper Group 1 horse. He has the right form.”

Sixties was able to hold off stablemate Autumn Boy to win the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) and while the latter is more favoured in Golden Rose betting he said there’s nothing to lose from chasing the Group 1.

“He was good last start. He deserved it, it’s his first prep,’’ Waller said.

“It’s a big ask but it’s his home track, he’s a brother to Artorius and he deserves to be running in a Group 1 race. Then he’ll go for a well earned break.”

Artorius ran fourth in the Golden Rose in 2021.

Sixties beats Autumn Boy at Rosehill on September 13

Waller said there are plenty of similarities between Autumn Boy and his sire The Autumn Sun, the Golden Rose winner of 2018, when it comes to demeanour and he’s building a handy race record in his own right.

Though beaten for the first time when returning from a 10 week break, Waller said he’s an exciting colt who will only continue to improve.

“He’s come through it really well,’’ he said.

“It’s his home track, 1400m, it’s a stallion making race, his dad won it and there’s no reason why he can’t win it.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Golden Rose at Rosehill