"He's my horse to hopefully replace Kawi," Waddell said.
"He's the best I've ridden who hasn't won a group 1. He hasn't run in one yet, but he will and he'll be a group 1 winner."
If Julius performs up to expectations tomorrow he will get his group 1 opportunity at Hastings a fortnight later in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m), the race Kawi won in 2015 and 2016.
Waddell formed a successful association with the recently retired Kawi near the end of his racing career. He was aboard seven times, for the last two of his seven group 1 wins plus three group 1 placings and a couple of group 2 placings.
They won the Haunui Farm WFA Classic and Captain Cook Stakes, both 1600m, and ran second in the Telegraph (1200m), all group 1 races.
Waddell has fashioned a fine record on Julius since riding him for the first time to win at Ellerslie in January last year. He was just beaten on him in his next start and has been back aboard in the horse's last two starts, the first of them in the Darley Stallions Plate at Ellerslie in March. That race completed a group 3 double for Julius who had won the Concorde Handicap (1200m) on the same track with Jake Bayliss in the saddle.
Julius, now a 7yr-old, has started just 11 times for seven wins and four placings.
The Tarzino Trophy is the ultimate goal this campaign. The son of Swiss Ace has already been installed the $7 favourite in fixed-odds betting with the TAB for the race even though he is not guaranteed a start.
He is equal-21st in the order of entry for the 16-horse field and needs to do well in the Foxbridge to secure a start.
Cambridge trainer John Bell expects Julius to measure up tomorrow
"He's a happy horse and he's improved from his first-up run. He was 75% ready that day."
Waddell went straight to the front and, despite being taken on mid-race, Julius was too strong.
"That was Jason's plan and it worked. He'll be making the call on how to ride him."
If Julius does succeed in the Foxbridge it will mean a far more compact programme than he is used to.
"He only had three runs in the whole of last season and now he'd be having three in a month," Bell said.
"But you can't be too precious. We've looked after him and now he's ready for it."
- NZ Racing Desk
