The final slot in The Everest 2020 field for Saturday week could got to Wild Ruler after the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained three-year-old easily accounted for his five rivals in the Group 2 $300,000 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Roman Consul Stakes winner Wild Ruler is being considered for The Everest 2020 final slot. Photo: Steve Hart.

An early feature on the Spring Champion Stakes Day card in Sydney, the Roman Consul Stakes turned into a one-horse act in the closing stages with the short-priced favourite Wild Ruler given a perfectly timed ride to victory by hoop James McDonald.

The nicely-bred Snitzel colt was second-up in the event having won the Listed Heritage Stakes (100m) fresh at Rosehill before rising in class and distance for the Roman Consul.

Wild Ruler was the odds-on fancy and won accordingly, McDonald happy to take the sit and settle second behind the front-runner Osamu who bounced out for an easy lead over the punters’ pick.

It was a strung-out field in the early stages with Richard & Michael Freedman’s I Am Invincible colt On The Lead in last after being slow out before the backmarker began to improve his position as they approached the turn for home.

As they cornered, Osamu tried to quicken but Wild Ruler travelled up strongly to reach the leader and hit the front 250m out from the line.

Pushing forward, the top elect showed no signs of slowing down extending his lead for a dominant display over the eye-catching runner-up On The Lead who came from last to hold out Hawkes Racing’s last start Group 2 Danehill Stakes winner in Melbourne Doubtland for second.

The world’s richest turf race takes place back at Royal Randwick Saturday week and there is just one slot holder – Chris Waller Racing – yet to select a runner in the $15 million The Everest (1200m).

Whether that horse will be Wild Ruler remains to be seen, but co-trainer Paul Snowden wasn’t ruling out the option should the horse be selected.

“My guys will talk to their guys I suppose,” he told the media post-race.

“But this is what it was about today. It was obviously a Group 2 so it’s nothing to be sneezed at. He’s got that on his resume now and we can look at our options.”

The other likely option could be a trip south to Flemington over the Melbourne Cup Carnival for a shot at the Group 1 $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the straight on October 31.

Zoustar (2013) and Brazen Beau (2014) are the latest horses to have completed the Roman Consul Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double.

All-in 2020 Coolmore Stud Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au for the VRC Derby Day event have firmed on Wild Ruler in from $15 to $5 co-favouritism with Anders.

As for The Everest 2020 betting, the youngster is at $19 to secure the position and go on to defeat the older horses as the Waller-trained Yes Yes Yes (2019) did as a three-year-old last spring.

“In recent years the younger horses have certainly performed quite well, especially the sprinters,” Snowden added.

“It’s food for thought.

“With a bit more natural tempo, he can certainly relax and be 10 – 20 % better. He’s still learning how to develop and how to settle in his races.

“I think it’s probably another six to 12 months away off the ultimate sort of performance.”

Click here for the latest The Everest odds online thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Roman Consul Stakes Results

Colour	Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Penalty	Starting Price
	1	1	WILD RULER	Peter & Paul Snowden	James McDonald		5	56.5kg		$1.60F
	2	4	ON THE LEAD	Richard & Michael Freedman	Tommy Berry	2L	3	56.5kg		$11
	3	2	DOUBTLAND	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Brenton Avdulla	3L	2	56.5kg		$3.30
	4	3	OSAMU	Chris Waller	Kerrin McEvoy	3.5L	4	56.5kg		$13
	5	6	RED STILETTO	Anthony Cummings	Regan Bayliss	6.8L	1	54.5kg		$41
		5	MUNTASEERA	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Jason Collett		0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.