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By Ray Hickson

D-Day for Godolphin’s TAB Everest decision will come on Monday with trainer James Cummings giving smart three-year-old Paulele the chance to raise his hand if he wins at Randwick on Saturday.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It’s widely held that 2019 placegetter Trekking is the ‘top seed’ for the blue army but Cummings has stopped short of saying a win by Paulele in the Group 2 $300,000 Polytrack Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) would tip the scales in his favour.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s so clear cut as that,’’ Cummings said.

“We’re certainly going to get through the weekend before we lock in our Everest runner.”

The colt was a $2.25 favourite with TAB on Thursday in the Roman Consul and $15 in the TAB Everest.

Paulele started the spring campaign with a runaway win over subsequent Golden Rose winner In The Congo in the Rosebud before having the tables turned in the San Domenico.

He had a month between runs into the Heritage Stakes (1100m) two weeks ago and hit the line into second, running 10.97 for his last 200m (Punter's Intelligence), behind Home Affairs and Cummings hopes he has a bit better fortune this time around in a race he says is a good opportunity for Paulele.

“The Roman Consul is a nice race for the horse and his campaign,’’ he said.

“It’s the chance he gets to reverse some of the fortunes he’s been dealt with. (Like) a wide draw on a railer’s track at Rosehill last time.

“If he can get back into winning form that’s going to do his confidence a lot of good and it’s the right race for him to convert on that.

“We’re eyeing off a few targets for Paulele and it’ll be a matter of how much he’s capable of going ahead in the Roman Consul back to set weights against the three-year-olds.”

Cummings is far from conceding that the Group 1 $1m Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) is a two horse race between the Gloaming quinella of Head Of State and Profondo.

While Godolphin’s Alegron finished fourth in that race he said the move to Randwick and rise in distance, plus a favourable barrier, mean the gelding is better positioned to present a threat.

“They sprinted much sharper than he did last time,’’ he said.

Paulele runs second at Rosehill on September 25

“He was forced to endure a three wide run on a railer’s track at Rosehill. He’s not going to be staring down the barrel of that from barrier two.

“He’s got to be up there with the horses who will enjoy getting out to a mile and a quarter, he’s going to settle nicely, he’s going to lap up the journey.

“He’s going to arrive there fourth up ready to run the best race of his campaign.”

Alegron was $9.50 with TAB on Thursday in the Spring Champion market.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting