The Golden Slipper came too soon for Wild Ruler but the youngster is set to get his chance in Group One company sooner rather than later.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Wild Ruler will resume in Saturday’s Cellarbrations Handicap (1000m) on the Kensington track ahead of a tilt at the Group One J J Atkins Stakes (1400m) in Queensland.
Peter Snowden said the Snitzel colt was too immature for a Slipper campaign but was filling out nicely and the J J Atkins shaped as a tempting target.
“It wasn’t quite the right fit for him,” Snowden said of the Golden Slipper.
“We always had in our minds to go to Brisbane. Under the circumstances it is a little bit harder, but it was always our intention to bring him back a bit later.
“He is a bit light and immature but he has certainly furnished with the break he had and there is a lot more of him now than what there was early in the piece.
“If he’s good enough he will get his opportunity.”
Wild Ruler scored a strong win in the Inglis Nursery at his only start in December and has looked to have a bit up his sleeve in two recent trial wins.
Kerrin McEvoy rides from barrier seven at Randwick and Snowden expects Wild Ruler to be hard to beat.
“He has always shown us ability. His trials have always been good and the one run he’s had was very good,” Snowden said.
“I think he is an above average horse and hopefully he shows that Saturday.”
The Snowdens saddle up Sancy in the same race and are keen to see her back at the track.
An impressive winner on debut over the summer, an outside draw and wet track brought her undone in the Magic Night Stakes last month in what Snowden labelled a “total forget run”.
She has since been freshened and connections have waited for the right race.
Her short-term goal is the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at the transferred Scone carnival and the Snowdens have ensured her readiness for the races with a testing barrier trial.
“We wanted to get her fitness level up because she has been in work for quite a while just marking time and not racing,” Snowden said.
“We wanted to blow the cobwebs out and make sure she was rock-hard fit for this race. It has brought her on nicely, that trial, and she is ready to go.”
Wild Ruler was $2.70 favourite on Thursday with Sancy $10 but Snowden did not believe the gap was so clear-cut.
“Possibly the colt over the filly but there is not a lot between them,” he said.
“They have both got their share of ability and luck in running will play a big part in who beats who home.”
The J J Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 6 has been shortened from 1600 to 1400m among adjustments brought on by the coronavirus crisis..
