Unsurprisingly the Godolphin-raced Golden Rose winner Astern has opened the odds-on favourite in the post-field Roman Consul Stakes 2016 betting markets for this weekend in Sydney.

Golden Rose winner Astern (inside) is odds-on to win again at Randwick on Saturday in the 2016 Roman Consul Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

Running as Royal Randwick Race 6 at 2:40pm (AEST) as part of a bumper nine-race card for Epsom Handicap Day, this year’s $300,000 Group 2 The Star Roman Consul (1200m) has attracted a small field of just eight three-year-old sprinters.

The inclusion of the John O’Shea-trained Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) winner Astern has scared off a host of potential rivals as the Medaglia D’Oro colt chases his fourth win on the trot.

He returns to Randwick for the first time since taking out the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) in a dead-heat with El Divino back in April and is two-from-two at Rosehill this time in.

Like the fellow O’Shea-trained Exosphere before him last Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, Astern completed the Run To The Rose – Golden Rose double and now looks to continue the run in the Roman Consul Stakes.

Early Roman Consul Stakes betting on the final acceptances at Ladbrokes.com.au has Astern firmly at the top at an odds-on quote of $1.60, jockey James McDonald continuing his association with the $1 million earner from barrier seven.

The big danger stopping Astern from continuing his winning form and the only other runner at single-figures in the latest Roman Consul Stakes odds is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Capitalist ($3.60).

He jumps from barrier three on the weekend and is out to return to the winners’ stall for the first time since the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) as a two-year-old back in March.

His only run as a three-year-old this season was a shock loss when fourth to Star Turn in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) in mid-August.

The Written Tycoon colt struggled under the 60kg impost first-up, but has won a subsequent Randwick trial and is a livewire chance to atone on 56.5kg at set weights in the Roman Consul Stakes field.

Capitalist is joined in the line-up by stablemate Russian Revolution ($14) in the outside alley who is out to retain his undefeated status.

An ultra-consistent son of Snitzel, the class colt has won his three career openers so far including most recently the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) on August 13.

He has trialled twice since for back-to-back seconds at Warwick Farm in September, and also has winning form at Randwick Racecourse as a two-year-old back in June.

The other best fancied hopeful at $10 for the win is fellow last start winner Guard Of Honour, Hugh Bowman booked to retain the ride on the Kris Lees-trained Northern Meteor colt.

Guard Of Honour ran sixth on debut failing to beat home any runners in the wet in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) in January, but has won his subsequent two starts.

The latest was on September 17 at Randwick when narrowly holding off Flash Fibian in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m).

See below for the full Roman Consul Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au.

2016 Roman Consul Stakes Field, Barriers & Odds