Unbeaten Viridine looking for G1 success

A G1 target is looming for the unbeaten Viridine after the colt’s impressive win in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Abundant natural speed made up for inexperience as Viridine pushed through along the rail at the 400m, fought off the challenge of runner-up Single Bullet at the 200m and then raced clear to score by two lengths.

The only concern for trainer James Cummings was a tendency for the colt to race too keenly in the early stages of the 1200m race.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a horse pull that hard at Randwick and still put them away with so much ease over the concluding stages,” Cummings said.

Cummings named the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, at Flemington on 4 November, as a race to suit Viridine (Brenton Avdulla).

“He wasn’t wound right up today and we’ve got a month to go to the Coolmore, if that is the way we decide to go, and I dare say there is a little more improvement there,” he said.

Cummings approached the Roman Consul with confidence, his only doubt being the brilliance Viridine had shown in training.

“I watched him work on Tuesday morning at Osborne Park and I haven’t seen a horse work better than that, I thought he’d almost worked too well to win.

“Sheikh Mohammed has a very very good stallion prospect in this colt.”

Viridine is a son of Poet’s Voice and his latest win puts him among that stallion’s best performers, a list that includes the recent G1 Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Poet’s Word.

The American-bred Interlocuter also emerged as a likely spring Stakes prospect with his win in the non-graded Adina Apartment Hotels Handicap at Randwick.

Interlocuter (Tye Angland) won by 2-3/4 lengths, making amends for his previous start when he lost on protest.