By Chris Roots
The explosive performance by Exosphere at Randwick on Saturday could deliver Sydney another group 1 sprint next spring with Roman Consul Stakes set to meet the three-year criteria for a lift to the highest level.
The three-year-old sprint has built an impressive honour roll as six of the past seven winners have gone on to win at group 1 level, including Brazen Beau, Zoustar and Foxwedge, which are all enjoying stud careers.
Explosive: Exosphere's win in the Roman Consul Stakes has helped boost its claims for group 1 status.Credit: Bradleyphotos.com.au
The 2012 Roman Consul winner Jolie Bay didn't achieve group 1 success but was runner-up in the Coolmore Stud Stakes a month later at her only group 1 run. Her career was cut short by injury but she did beat a subsequent group 1 winner in Your Song at Randwick.
"The Roman Consul Stakes has built a great record over several years now, and Exosphere as a group 1 winner has further boosted the quality of the race," ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said.
"An upgrade of the Roman Consul to a group 1 would enhance our growing Sydney spring carnival and we would support it with extra prizemoney.
"We are also actively working with Racing NSW to see other races considered for upgrades, including the Golden Pendant and the Premier Stakes."
There is an imbalance in group 1 racing between Sydney and Melbourne, particular in the sprinting ranks.
There is no group 1 race at 1200 metres or less in Sydney in the spring, which should concern the Australian Pattern committee. Only the Galaxy and TJ Smith are sprints contested at the highest level in the autumn. Victoria has eight group 1s at the same distance range, including the Coolmore Stud Stakes for three-year-olds.
To obtain group 1 status a race has to obtain a three-year average international rating of 115 or above. The past two winners gave the race a chance for a boost with Zoustar rated 115 in 2013 Roman Consul and Brazen Beau at 112 last year, a remarkably low figure considering the strength of the field.
Exosphere was rated 117 internationally in winning the Golden Rose and his commanding win easing down by more than three lengths should entitle him to that rating and more from Saturday. He also broke Brazen Beau's race record by more than half a second.
If he rates 118 or above, the Roman Consul could become a group 1 race.
"The important thing is for us to show three years of above benchmark results to make a compelling case for the Pattern Committee," Pearce said. "The ATC would be willing and able to fund prizemoney increases necessary for races of group 1 status."
It would give trainers another race to target with their young sprinters, which might mean they don't press to get to the Golden Rose.
Racing Victoria's general manger racing Greg Carpenter is Australia's representative on the World Best racehorse committee, a group of handicappers from around the globe who review all group races. The final ratings for each year are done and locked in Hong Kong in December.
The Roman Consul rating of 112 for Brazen Beau in a group 2, can be contrasted with a 116 given to Rich Enuff in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude at group 3 level around the same time last year.
Brazen Beau went on to become a two-time group 1 winner after the Roman Consul and rated 121 internationally. Behind him was subsequent group 3 winner Nostradamus, Delectation, which was a group 1 placegetter and group 2 winner, and Hallowed Crown, a dual group 1 winner, illustrating the strength of the race last year.
The Roman Consul has proven the best form line for the Coolmore Stud Stakes with Brazen Beau and Zoustar completing the double in the past two years. Jolie Bay and Foxwedge were runners-up at Flemington after winning the Roman Consul, while Buffering, a five-time group 1 winner, was fourth in the Coolmore after his success at Randwick.