Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It’s almost too good to be true – that’s how Godolphin trainer James Cummings describes how Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Daily Press Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) appears to have fallen for classy mare Zardozi.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The four-year-old has a stranglehold on betting as $2.10 favourite with TAB on Thursday on the back of her first-up sixth behind Via Sistina in the Group 1 Winx Stakes two weeks ago.

Cummings said on Sky Sports Radio it was an ideal kick off for the mare’s spring as she raced handy and held her ground to finish 2-1/4 lengths from the winner and would only have improved for it.

“She’s really flying, we love the way she’s going and this is almost too good a race for her second-up,’’ Cummings said.

“I think the mare has got to get her preparation underway in a positive fashion.

“I like that she won second-up last preparation over 1500m at Rosehill (Phar Lap Stakes). She’s certainly in a position to reward us for her light campaign last time in having had only the four runs.

“I’d say this is the type of race that could keep setting her up well for the spring ahead which is a really open looking whiteboard of options at the moment.”

As Cummings mentioned, there are no firm plans as yet for Zardozi’s spring - it could include anything from a Golden Eagle to stretching her out to a mile and a half again.

Zardozi won the VRC Oaks last spring and was runner-up in the Australian Oaks earlier this year but he noted that Godolphin’s 2020 Golden Eagle winner Colette was also an Oaks winner and that race holds appeal given she's already a winner over the Rosehill 1500m.

“There’s a restricted race for four-year-olds worth $10 million, the Golden Eagle, that can’t be ignored and we’ve been able to turn an Oaks winner in the past into a Golden Eagle winner,’’ he said.

“It'll be a confidence booster whichever way we are heading if she can keep getting to the races and running well like she did first-up.”

The TAB Everest picture for Godolphin could become a little clearer if Aft Cabin is prominent at the finish of the Group 3 $1 million Southern Cross Group Concorde Stakes (1000m).

Cummings made the decision to geld the five-year-old following his autumn campaign, which started with a slashing third in the Challenge Stakes before he failed in a couple of Group 1s.

He’s reacted with two easy trial wins.

“He’s going beautifully. He’s come back we’d like to think as a brand new racehorse this preparation having been freshly gelded,’’ Cummings said.

“I like the way he’s gone about his work in two public trials since. But he’s been building up to those efforts with an excellent preliminary at Osborne Park.

“I’d say on the strength of his effort in the Challenge Stakes first-up last preparation he’s a very interesting chance in what is a very strong Concorde.”

Godolphin’s Everest slot has been left vacant with the retirement of In Secret to stud, she was publicly nominated as the top seed by Cummings who now says he will wait and see what unfolds in the coming weeks.

“I think we’ve got time and we’ll take our time,’’ he said.

“We’ll get through the Concorde this weekend and the Run To The Rose next weekend and we’ll be in far better position to be more informed about where we are heading as far as a pecking order goes.”

While there’s plenty of attention on Aft Cabin, Cummings said it’s not beyond stablemate Red Card to make her presence felt in the Concorde.

Aft Cabin wins a Rosehill trial on August 20

The mare has won eight of her 17 starts including three at 1000m.

“I think Red Card can run a race because she’s well suited at set weights and penalties,’’ he said.

“Even though there’s the likelihood of a good gallop in this 1000m race I think she can still be well suited by a fast pace and kick on strongly.

“Because 1000m races are often the domain of 1000m horses and those that might have a little more class and finish off strongly don’t always catch them.”

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