The horse Watling is really keen to back in the Coolmore & the highly-fancied runner he's willing to write off

Dean Watling has given a big push for Traffic Warden in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The James Cummings-trained colt was a late scratching at the gates in The Everest and has since travelled to Melbourne where he’s had two pieces of work down the Flemington straight.

With Growing Empire and Lady Of Camelot the other two runners competing in the Coolmore out of The Everest, Watling believes that race boasts the strongest form heading towards this 1200m feature.

To be ridden by Jamie Kah, Traffic Warden will jump from barrier three with his main rivals in the market Growing Empire and Switzerland drawing gates nine and eight respectively.

“Obviously the Everest is the key lead-up race to this as we’ve seen over the years that it’s getting more and more traction that horses go from an Everest to the Coolmore,” Watling told SENTrack's Giddy Up.

“The barriers and the way this track plays is going to be everything for this race, you’ve got a horse like Traffic Warden that has drawn the inside and then you’ve got horses like Growing Empire and Switzerland that have drawn out.

“I’m scared of Growing Empire as he’s a proper horse and I was with him in The Everest.

“Where the best lanes are during the day is going to be crucial but I just think there’s a big edge on Traffic Warden.

“We didn’t see him in The Everest and we know he's got some coltish tendencies but you look at that Everest run and the runners that would’ve had Traffic Warden’s run, he would’ve given that race a shake.

“We’re getting a better price about him and I would be concerned about the inside gate if he was a backmarker but he’s got tactical speed so I think he can offset that.

“I’m really keen here, I think Traffic Warden is the bet of the day.”

Despite winning dominantly last start, Watling is happy to be against Switzerland who comes out of the Roman Consul Stakes.

“The one I want to be against is Switzerland and I know he was really good last start but I’m just not sure how strong that form is,” Watling added.

“Traffic Warden for me in a cracking Coolmore Stud Stakes.”

Traffic Warden is currently rated at $4.20 with Sportsbet as the second favourite behind Growing Empire ($3.50) and ahead of Switzerland ($5.50).

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