Astern fit and ready for Roman Consul

His trainer regards him as the best horse he’s trained and his racetrack performances have him rated as Australia’s best three-year-old.

Astern (John O’Shea/James McDonald) is undoubtedly a colt of profound ability – and he’s ready to add another credit to the list when he runs in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, October 1.

Along with the serious G1 contenders Hauraki in the Epsom Handicap and Allergic and Magic Hurricane in the Metropolitan and the first of the season’s two-year-olds, Astern is helping to rekindle memories of the same program last year when the Godolphin colours were carried to victory in five stakes races.

For Astern’s trainer John O’Shea and the team that worked tirelessly to get the colt through the setback that caused him to miss the G1 Caulfield Guineas, confidence will be high when he goes to the start at Randwick.

“It’s well known that he had a slightly elevated temperature and we had to give him some treatment that meant he couldn’t run in the Guineas Prelude and therefore couldn’t run in the Guineas,” O’Shea said.

“He’s certainly well and truly over it.

“Worked here this morning with Bezel who is a last start winner and James said he was a lot fresher going into this race than in the Golden Rose.

“He’s in great form and he’s looking a million dollars.”

While the Caulfield Guineas was meant to provide the most serious examination of Astern’s current preparation, he meets capable opposition on Saturday including the G1 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and the unbeaten Russian Revolution.

In the G3 Craven Plate, the imported middle-distance runner It’s Somewhat (John O’Shea/James McDonald) gets a trip to suit and a sufficient drop in class to suggest he can regain winning form.

The former Mark Johnston-trained gelding finished third behind the champion filly Winx and stalemate Hauraki in the G1 George Main Stakes at Randwick last time out.

“He profiles nicely for this race. A nice third to Winx and Hauraki last start and he’s stepping back in grade and up in disatnce,” O’Shea said.

“It’s still a very competitive race, but an ideal one for a horse of his calibre and class. We expect him to run very, very well.”

The Randwick program also provides the new-season’s juvenile’s with their first raceday experience and O’Shea has selected two of the Godolphin team to make their debuts.

In the Listed Gimcrack Stakes the Exceed And Excel filly Jorda (John O’Shea/James McDonald) will attempt a repeat her winning trial effort of earlier this month in which she showed good   racing manners and speed.

Piracy (John O’Shea/James McDonald), a colt by Exceed And Excel, opens his account in the male division, the Listed Breeders’ Plate, having shown plenty of promise after winning his first trial.