Group 1 goal for Wild Ruler to help press his claim for a berth in The Everest

Trainer Peter Snowden is likely to extend brilliant colt Wild Ruler’s three-year-old season to try and secure an all-important Group 1 win and further enhance the sprinter’s claims for a start in the $15 million The TAB Everest next spring.

Wild Ruler put himself into The Everest mix when he endured a wide run and still held on to win the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick last Saturday.

“We are certainly hoping Wild Ruler can get to The Everest but he needs to earn his spot and has to do a bit more,’’ Snowden said.

“But he is going the right way, he’s still only lightly-raced and is putting a very good ‘CV’ behind him now.’’

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Wild Ruler (left) scored a tough win from Isotope in the Group 2 Arrowfield Stud Stakes at Randwick last Saturday. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Wild Ruler scored his fifth win from 10 starts and took his career earnings over the $1.5 million barrier with his brave win in the Arrowfield Sprint.

Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said Wild Ruler will be kept in training with Group 1 sprints in Brisbane and Adelaide being considered as potential targets.

“If we tip him out now he will be spelling for a long time (during winter),’’ Snowden said.

“He has only had three runs this autumn, he is going well in himself and is really getting that ‘steely’ edge to him now. I’d like to try and win a Group 1 with him.’’

Snowden, who prepared Redzel to successive wins in The Everest (2017-18), said the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on May 15 would seem an obvious target – except the trainer is reluctant to take on Nature Strip.

“The Doomben 10,000 would have been ideal but under the weight-for-age scale he is only getting 2kg off Nature Strip which makes it very hard for the colt,’’ Snowden said.

“I need to have a discussion with the ownership group but we still have a couple of options going forward.

Captivant is one of the favourites for Saturday’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“There is also the chance of going to Adelaide for The Goodwood (1200m), which is run the same day as the Doomben 10,000, or the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Doomben later next month.’’

Snowden said Godolphin’s decision to spell runaway Inglis Sires winner Anamoe prompted a change of plans with his colt Captivant, who now runs in the Group 1 $500,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“We were going to go to Brisbane with Captivant,’’ Snowden said.

“But now the Champagne Stakes has opened up a bit it is worth a throw at the stumps.’’

The Snowden stable also has talented imported galloper I Am Superman primed for the Group ` $600,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and in-form sprinter Signore Fox is an entry for the Group 3 $160,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).

Both are coming off impressive last start wins – I Am Superman defeated subsequent George Ryder Stakes winner Think It Over in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes and Signore Fox was brilliant first-up in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes – and Snowden is sweating on a good track rating for them to have every opportunity of maintaining their winning form.

Originally published asWild Ruler being aimed towards Group 1 glory

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