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By Ray Hickson

Kerrin McEvoy says he has to approach his ride on Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton at Rosehill on Saturday with an open mind.

Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The high profile colt drew the outside barrier in the 11 horse field for the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) and McEvoy said he’ll be guided by what the Chris Waller camp wants to do and what happens when the gates open.

Wodeton was drawn alongside the expected leader North England, who has been scratched, and McEvoy is wary that the chute start at Rosehill can be a minefield for those drawn wide.

“At the end of the day you’ve got to see how the race unfolds,’’ McEvoy said.

“You go there with a bit of an idea how it might unfold. He’s still learning his craft as well.

“Who’s to say, he might take me into a forward spot or he might need to be ridden a bit quieter. It all comes down to how the horse is reacting to the race, I’m going in there a bit open minded.

“You have to when you’ve drawn the outside in a sprint race at Rosehill.”

McEvoy was travelling just behind Wodeton when he rode stablemate Sequel in the colt’s stunning debut almost four length win at Rosehill a month ago so he had a good view of what was unfolding in front of him.

He said as far as debut wins go he couldn’t have been any more impressive and that was backed up when he rode the colt in trackwork.

“He was pretty electric winning first time out and I was lucky enough to have a sit on him last Monday,’’ he said.

“The way he travelled, I was just back behind him watching the race unfold and he was able to withstand a little bit of pressure then power away off the back of that.

“He was able to sit close to a speed then quicken away and show a good turn of foot.”

The champion jockey is well aware there’ll be plenty of attention on the horse and particularly on how he handles the youngster.

Wodeton was $2.30 favourite with TAB on Thursday and still the only two-year-old under $10 as $3 favourite in the $5 million Golden Slipper – a position that could go on the line on Saturday up against Golden Gift runner-up West Of Swindon and Gimcrack winner Bel Merci.

“He goes there with a fair rap on him, he’s obviously meeting a better field and I understand that so he’s going to need to be heading in the right direction because we’re getting closer and closer to a Slipper,’’ he said.

“He’s a stylish colt, he moves well, he’s got a good head on his shoulders and seems to have come on since his win and his trial.”

Group 1 placed three-year-old Linebacker pleased McEvoy with his first run as a gelding and is looking for him to progress from that in the Group 2 $400,000 Kia Ora Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

While he was outpointed by Public Attention in the Eskimo Prince first-up, McEvoy said it wasn’t an ideal situation to be leading but on the whole it was a promising return.

“The effort was great, he had the penalty and the pleasing thing is he’s gone to back to showing that willing attitude which is what he had early in his career before his mind took over,’’ he said.

“Since he’s been gelded it’s been pleasing to see him revert back to that.

Wodeton wins at Rosehill on January 18

“He worked nicely during the week, we’d like to get a sit on something if we could because I think he will settle a bit better with a horse to follow.”

Kerrin McEvoy on Austmarr (race 10): “She ended up in behind the speed (first-up) and she can race a little on the aggressive side. I took a lot of confidence out of watching her southern wins, one at Sandown and one at Morphettville, where she was able to get to the front, roll, stay happy, then kick off that so that’ll be the plan.”

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