The Christian Cullen-sired gelding settled back in the running before improving forward three wide around the field to sit outside the leader for the closing 1000 metres and was travelling effortlessly at the top of the home stretch.

Roman Gladiator was only asked to lengthen stride over the closing 100 metres of the event scoring by a ½ length over Surgeon Son with a further 1 ½ lengths back to Sugar Shack (third).

Roman Gladiator covered the 2400 metres, from a mobile start, in 3.05.9 (mile rate 2.04.6) with closing 800 metre and 400 metre sectionals of 57.8 seconds and 28.8 seconds.