Waddell kicked home five winners in succession last weekend, scoring on Tavi Mac and Jewel Of Patch at Trentham (his only rides on Saturday) then Run To Perfection, Pimlico and Lincoln King at Ellerslie.
The most memorable of his 14 wins since Christmas Day was the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day aboard Julius, his mount on Saturday in the Gr.1 JR and N Berkett Telegraph (1200m).
That notable victory on John Bell's stable star was Waddell's 11th Group One win of his career and his previous Group One triumph was a month earlier at Trentham in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) on Wyndspelle, his mount in Saturday's Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m).
"To be riding my two favourites, Julius and Wyndspelle, on the same card will be special," Waddell said.
"No matter the results, it's going to be a fun day and I'm going to enjoy the day. It's not often you get to ride two favourites in Group Ones."
Waddell is happy to report Julius has thrived since he registered his ninth and most important win from 16 starts in an interrupted career.
"I ride him every day during the week and he has come through the Railway even better than expected," Waddell said.
"He had a run-along last Friday over 1000m at three-quarter pace, speeding up the last 600m in 38.
"It was perfect work to stretch his legs and he'll work in company before Saturday."
The Railway and the Telegraph are the first two legs of the New Zealand Bloodstock Sprint Triple Crown and the final leg is the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 8.
There is a $100,000 bonus for any horse that can win all three legs, leaving a tempting carrot hanging in front of Julius' connections.
"It'll be up to John (Bell) whether he runs in the sprint at Te Rapa, too," Waddell said. "He's got nothing left to prove. We'll have to see how he comes through the Telegraph."
On Saturday Waddell will be chasing consecutive Thorndon Mile wins, having won last year's event on Shadows Cast.
He was given the choice between Shadows Cast and Wyndspelle for Saturday's Thorndon Mile, just as he was when the pair last met in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) on the same course and Waddell guided Wyndspelle to a decisive win.
"I'm grateful that I was offered the ride back on Shadows Cast," Waddell said. "He's been very good to me, but I didn't want to get off Wyndspelle. He's such a favourite."
Wyndspelle hasn't raced since the Captain Cook Stakes with trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard electing to bypass the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie.
Waddell's five confirmed mounts for Trentham on Saturday also include Prince Albert, the promising stayer from Stephen Marsh's stable he rode to a seven and a half-length win over 2100m at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
Looking beyond Wellington Cup Day, Waddell is excited over Pimlico's prospects in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week and also being booked for Dragon Leap in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 8 and Scorpz in the Gr.2 Jamison Park Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie a week later.
All three horses are last-start winners holding nominations for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on February 29. Dragon Leap is the $2.80 TAB Fixed Odds favourite following his win in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, while Scorpz is on the third line of betting at $10 and Pimlico at $21.
Waddell has ridden Scorpz in his last two wins and he has also had the experience of riding the country's top filly, Travelling Light, when winning Ellerslie's Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), the lead-up to her win last Saturday in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.
"She's an amazing filly," Waddell said. "I've ridden a lot of good fillies and she's right up there with the best."
- NZ Racing Desk
