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By Ray Hickson

Godolphin trainer James Cummings isn’t wondering what might have been with classy colt Traffic Warden last spring and is confident he has that stallion making win in him in 2025.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The three-year-old was sensationally scratched at the barriers when one of the favourites for the $20 million TAB Everest, won by Bella Nipotina, before ending his spring with an unplaced run in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Traffic Warden is one of a number of stars set to kick off their autumn campaigns at Thursday’s Rosehill barrier trials and Cummings said he’s tracking nicely toward a first-up run in February.

“He’s a Run To the Rose winner, the quality of horses that have won that race speaks volumes about what class of horse he is,’’ Cummings said.

“A narrow second in the Golden Rose is not to be sneezed at either so I wouldn’t underestimate the horse going into the autumn.

“We can aim high with him and the team remains extremely hopeful he has that big race performance on the right day in him.”

Zac Lloyd has been booked to ride Traffic Warden in a 900m trial. The colt is $11 in TAB's pre-noms market on the Group 1 Galaxy and $15 in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes.

Debut two-year-old winners Tempted and Comedy are engaged in separate heats.

After watching the impressive Wodeton win last weekend, Cummings said a benchmark has been set now in the juvenile ranks but he’s looking forward to sending the Kirkham Plate winner Comedy out against the Coolmore colt.

Cummings has earmarked the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) on February 1 as a likely kick off point.

“I think we’ll find out a bit about him because it will be a converging of talented males in a race like that,’’ he said.

“He’ll go in with improvement but he’s an athletic horse and he’s benefited from plenty of time since a smart debut win. He should be set up for a solid campaign to come.”

Dual Group 1 winner Broadsiding is nearing his first trial and Cummings said he’ll naturally be aiming high when he returns.

The colt beat Traffic Warden to win the Group 1 Golden Rose in September and notched a third placing in the Cox Plate.

“He’s forward in his work and has toned up nicely since the spring,’’ he said.

“He’ll be ready to go pretty soon, I’ll run him first-up in February also.

“I like the fact he seems to have enjoyed a good break after the spring, a little bit more time out than he was afforded after the winter.”

When asked to name a few from the camp he’s hopeful will enjoy fruitful autumn campaigns Cummings suggested lightly raced first-up winner Polyglot, stakes winner Commemorative, Five Diamonds winner Pericles, Oaks winner Zardozi and comeback kid Golden Mile.

Broadsiding beats Traffic Warden in the Golden Rose

“Pericles might get a bit of confidence out of winning two races in his most recent campaign, I’d like to see him break through at a higher level if he’s appropriately placed,’’ he said.

“I’m really hopeful Zardozi might have adjusted to life in the fast lane in open company, I’d also throw in the mix a horse back from the sheds in Golden Mile.”

Golden Mile, a Group 1 winner at three and Golden Eagle placegetter in 2023, has been gelded and returned to training after an injury prevented him from serving at stud.

All the fields for Thursday's Rosehill barrier trials