By Ray Hickson
Trainer Peter Snowden says Wild Ruler fits the bill to join a handy list of three-year-old colts to win Saturday’s Group 1 $700,000 Bisley Workwear Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill.
He should know, too, as he and Paul Snowden trained the last colt to win the feature sprint with Russian Revolution winning in 2017 under Kerrin McEvoy carrying just 51kg.
Wild Ruler’s rise has been somewhat similar to Russian Revolution – both colts won the Group 2 Roman Consul in the spring and tackled the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (Wild Ruler running third and Russian Revolution fourth) – and McEvoy rides him on 52kg.
Snowden said, so long as it isn’t a ‘bog track’ on Saturday, Wild Ruler is very much a horse on the way up and will get his Group 1 chance in the Galaxy.
“He’s a speed horse, it’s a Group 1 and the bonus you get from the weight scale is a big advantage,’’ Snowden said.
“It’s not a gimme but it gives you a chance to win a Group 1 race.
“He’s always had good ability but seemed a bit light. Now he is fully mature he looks amazing, he’s about 45kg heavier than last preparation and all of that has gone into muscle.”
Wild Ruler wins at Randwick on March 6
Wild Ruler was $6.50 third favourite with TAB on Wednesday after a dominant first-up win in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Randwick under 59kg two weeks ago.
That’s is probably responsible for Wild Ruler carrying that 1kg more than Russian Revolution in his year but it also means he has that added fitness.
“It was the perfect race for him,’’ Snowden said.
“He won with authority, he ran time, he carried a big weight and drops significantly in weight for this week.
“Admittedly he’s meeting the best field that he’s met but the Coolmore was a good field too and he wasn’t beaten that far and he’s definitely come on.
“He’s a lot more relaxed and his work is a lot stronger than last pep and to my eye he has improved out of sight.”
Other three-year-old colts to salute in the Galaxy in the past 20 years include Shellscrape (2010, awarded the races after Ortensia was disqualified), Nicconi (2009), Charge Forward (2005) and Snowland (2003).
Meanwhile, Snowden said Stellar Pauline is capable of improvement second-up in the Listed $140,000 Irresistible Pools & Spas Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) though the filly is one of the outsiders at $71 with TAB.
She was beaten two lengths by Lunar Tramp at Canterbury on February 26.
“Forget her run first-up, she never got into the race,’’ he said.
“She’s always promised to win a decent race and that might be a nice race for her. I’m happy with her work and trials, her work on Tuesday was very good so she comes here in good order.”
The fields, form and replays for Saturday's Longines Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill