Exciting colt Switzerland puts name forward for The Everest with stylish win in Roman Consul Stakes at Rosehill

Boom colt Switzerland bounced back from a first-up flop with a strong win in the Roman Consul Stakes and gave owners Coolmore something to ponder for its Everest slot.

Switzerland bounced back from a first-up failure with a strong win in the Roman Consul Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Chris Waller compared gifted colt Switzerland with the trainer’s The Everest-winning three-year-old Yes Yes Yes after a brilliant return to form at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“We had Yes Yes Yes in it and he won it (The Everest, 2019) and this horse, Switzerland, is every bit as good as Yes Yes Yes,” Waller said.

The Hall of Fame trainer made this telling statement soon after Switzerland burst back to top form in the Group 2 $300,000 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).

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Yes Yes Yes ran the fastest-ever 1200m at Randwick to win The Everest in 1m 7.32s five years ago while it took Switzerland took less than 70 seconds to put a quality field of three-year-olds to the sword.

Switzerland won with plenty in reserve, making a compelling case to be given his chance in the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick next Saturday.

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier has had the three-year-old Storm Boy potentially taking their slot for The Everest but delayed confirming a start until he watched another of his crack colts Switzerland at Rosehill.

Magnier said he will consult with Waller and make a call on the Coolmore slot for The Everest in the next 24 hours.

“Switzerland has won really well, that was just what we wanted to see,” Magnier said. “We have a bit of thinking to do now.”

Coolmore’s slot announcement of whether it is Switzerland, Storm Boy or even another left-field choice will complete the elite 12-horse field for The Everest.

Switzerland ($6) wouldn’t look out of place in The Everest if his Roman Consul win was anything to go by with the colt racing clear to win by a widening two lengths from Coleman ($3.30 favourite) with Yoshinobu ($26) a head away third.

Waller said Switzerland had legitimate excuses for his poor first-up run when he finished at the rear of the field in the Run To The Rose last month.

“He just got himself worked up when he was resuming which is not him,” Waller said.

“It was out of character, he’s actually a beautifully natured horse. We just had him too fresh first-up and we rode him too close. It just wasn’t a pretty moment.”

Switzerland has been freshened since and trialled well leading into the Roman Consul Stakes.

Does this change the Everest picture?

Switzerland is way too good for them in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes! 🇨🇭😮@cwallerracing | @nashhot | @CoolmoreAus@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/6D208oJvk1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

“He’s getting there and today will give him a lot of confidence,” Waller said.

“We asked him a lot at two, and then we asked him to come back at three and when they have a bad game, it’s all about getting your confidence up and scoring a goal.

“We did that in a trial without winning and we thought we had him back on track so today will just take it to a new level.”

When pressed on whether Switzerland could handle a quick back-up into The Everest next week, Waller noted the colt didn’t have a hard run to win the Roman Consul Stakes.

“Whether it is an Everest of a benchmark 78, I will treat it like another race,” Waller said.

“Switzerland has had his gallop today and is ready to go if he gets a slot.

“With The Everest being a Group 1 now, I can’t use the excuse anymore to wait for the Coolmore Stud Stakes.”

Switzerland firmed from $51 to $15 for The Everest, joining Storm Boy and Stefi Magnetica at those odds behind favourite I Wish I Win at $5.

Champion jockey Nash Rawiller said Switzerland has a “real X-factor about him”.

“What a colt,” Rawiller enthused. “We all saw nothing went right for him (first-up) and apparently last time from as far as the tie-ups before the race he was sort of mucking things up.

“So, full credit to Chris and his team, they’ve got him here today in outstanding order and the right frame of mind to run well.”

Rawiller said the fast early tempo surprised him but it suited Switzerland. “I couldn’t believe they went that quick,” he said.

“But we finished up in a beautiful spot and I loved the way he relaxed today. I had a lot of horse underneath me by the time we got to the furlong (a200m). He was explosive when I went for him.”