Russian Revolution remains unbeaten in Roman Consul upset
IT was advertised as a match-race between Golden Rose winner Astern and Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, but punters didn’t account for the unbeaten Russian Revolution in the Group 2 Roman Consul at Randwick.
The three-year-old colt by Snitzel came into the race having won its first three starts with its most recent win coming at Caulfield in the Vain Stakes. Many believed the form running through the Slipper and Golden Rose would be the strongest form guide, but the smart colt gave bookmakers something to cheer about.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt closed at $10 with Sportsbet with Astern shortening into $1.35. Punters were also likely put off by the strong head wind which had been harming front-runners at Randwick, but Russian Revolution defied it all.
“He’s been improving all the time. Peter and Paul (Snowden) have always had a high opinion of him,” McEvoy said. I knew it wasn’t just a two-horse race.”
The tactics were clear from the outset and McEvoy wasn’t worried about facing the strong wind. He planted his mount on the speed and had its rivals chasing in vain.
“It was easy through the first three furlongs, he picked up and they had to catch me,” McEvoy said. “Peter and Paul left it up to me, got him into a rhythm.
“If they fire up with the wind in their face they don’t finish, but he relaxed really well.”
Astern sat at the rear of the field and produced a strong effort in the straight, but ultimately would have had to produce champion-like sectionals to reel in Russian Revolution.
“I knew it was Astern or Capitalist (fast approaching McEvoy),” McEvoy said. “He’s a quality colt, his best is ahead of him.”
Peter Snowden was confident Russian Revolution could do what no other horse had been able to achieve at Randwick on Saturday.
“My word. He did what everyone was frightened to do today, he led from in front,” Snowden said. “I thought he could dictate this race from the front, it worked out perfectly and full credit to the horse.
“Good to see him get that victory over two smart ones behind him.”
Snowden was expecting a big effort from stablemate Capitalist, but the Golden Slipper winner had to settle for third.
“The other horse (Russian Revolution) was just a bit more race fit,” he added.