Peter & Paul Snowden’s talented colt Russian Revolution retained his undefeated status with an upset win over the Golden Rose winner and odds-on favourite Astern at Royal Randwick in the Roman Consul Stakes 2016 at Randwick.

A winner of his three previous starts, the Snitzel colt came into the $300,000 Group 2 The Star Roman Consul (1200m) on the freshen-up after winning the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in mid-August.

He had the two Sydney trials before taking to the Randwick track in the Roman Consul Stakes with Kerrin McEvoy aboard in the outside alley.

Just six runners lined-up and all the money was on the John O’Shea-trained Golden Rose winner Astern, with Team Snowden’s Golden Slipper winner from the autumn Capitalist the other best in betting.

McEvoy and Russian Revolution did what the others weren’t willing to do and went out front to face the strong head wind and lead the Roman Consul Stakes field around.

The youngster jumped away well from the wide draw to lead from Mount Panorama off the fence, giving Capitalist the rails run with cover in third.

The favourite Astern meanwhile was put to sleep by jockey James McDonald settling last in running and waiting to reel off those fast late sectionals.

Astern was still last in running switched off at the 600m, but started to fire up once on the bend.

Russian Revolution led the field on the fence around the bend, Astern going through the gears on the outside once on the straight.

It looked like Astern was going to get the job done and emulate last year’s Golden Rose – Roman Consul stakes winner for the Godolphin stable Exosphere (2015), but Russian Revolution wasn’t giving in and gave a kick.

Capitalist was trying and not without his chances in the middle, but Russian Revolution ($11) and McEvoy took no prisoners and after a confident ride the winner showed fight and dug deep to hold off Astern ($1.45) by a long neck.

Finishing off the Roman Consul Stakes trifecta for third was Russian Revolution’s stablemate Capitalist ($4) who just gave the race fitness edge away.

“I had it easy through the first three furlongs and he just picked up and they had to catch me,” McEvoy said post-win running through the race play.

“Full credit to the horse. I could hear them coming and it was all guns blazing the last 50 (metres).

“He’s a quality little colt in his own right.

“I was just able to get him into a nice rhythm, it’s all about getting them to relax in the wind.

“A great effort.”

Co-trainer Peter Snowden also gave “full credit to the horse” who he plans to take to the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight on Victoria Derby Day, October 29.

“There was no fluke in that, he’s a very talented horse,” Snowden said of Russian Revolution.

“I thought he could dictate this race up front…it worked out perfectly.

“He relaxed really well and was very good late.

“He’s got plenty of upside and is a very good colt.

“I’m definitely thinking the Coolmore Stud Stakes for Russian Revolution.

“I’ll talk to the team about Capitalist, but I’m prepared to also go on with him.”

Exosphere ran fourth to Japonisme (2015) in last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes three weeks after his Roman Consul win, while Snowden won the race in 2011 with star colt Sepoy.

Check out the all-in Coolmore Stud Stakes 2016 odds on this year’s Roman Consul Stakes winner Russian Revolution online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2016 Roman Consul Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 5 – 01/10/2016

Place	#	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Br.	Wgt.	SP
1	4	RUSSIAN REVOLUTION	Peter & Paul Snowden	Kerrin McEvoy	–	6	56.5kg	$9
2	1	ASTERN	John O’Shea	James McDonald	0.2L	5	56.5kg	$1.40F
3	2	CAPITALIST	Peter & Paul Snowden	Blake Shinn	1.5L	2	56.5kg	$4
4	6	NIKITAS	Chris Waller	Tommy Berry	4.7L	3	56.5kg	$61
5	7	FLASH FIBIAN	Paul Murray	Tye Angland	7.4L	4	56.5kg	$41
6	8	MOUNT PANORAMA	Gary Moore	Jason Collett	9.3L	1	56.5kg	$91
–	3	EL DIVINO	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Tim Clark	–	0	–	–
–	5	GUARD OF HONOUR	Kris Lees	Hugh Bowman	–	0	–	–