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By Ray Hickson

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is confident his youngsters Ojai and Contemporary have gained the necessary experience from recent racing to be competitive in Saturday’s $1 million Inglis Rural Property Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

Ojai made her debut with a gutsy win in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) at Randwick two weeks ago while Contemporary was favourite and ran sixth in the race at his second start.

Cummings was impressed with the progress Ojai made going into that race and can only expect her to improve off it given a perfect set up.

“She was nice on debut. She knew what she was doing,’’ Cummings said.

“She showed improvement from her trial to her debut, which is a great sign in a two-year-old.

“I’ve been delighted with her in the last fortnight. She’s got to come on a little bit from that run but at least she has the run under her belt.”

Cummings has given in-form apprentice Jenny Duggan a real chance to win the $1 million race, rewarding her purple patch of form with a prime ride not unlike he did with Koby Jennings taking the ride on Colette in the 2020 Golden Eagle.

He said Ojai, $9 with TAB on Thursday, will appreciate the extra 100m of the Golden Gift and has drawn to put herself in the race.

“Jenny’s been riding plenty of winners and we try to pay attention to that,’’ he said.

“From the barrier on a straightforward horse she can get a good run and hopefully that gives Jenny a chance in a big race.”

Godolphin had two representatives in the inaugural Golden Gift in 2019 and a just the one runner, Athelric, last year.

Contemporary has had the benefit of two race starts and Cummings felt he was in need of the run in the Kirkham where he drifted well back from an inside gate and made some ground to be beaten two lengths.

“The 900m on debut was too short for him up the straight, it was a bit like a second trial really,’’ he said.

“He probably took a run to get himself back on his Sydney leg and get himself together.”

“Now he’s the equal most-experienced horse in the race, he can enjoy the step-up to 1100m quite a lot and he’s a very strong colt so he has his chance to put himself into the race.”

Josh Parr rides Contemporary, $14 with TAB on Thursday, from barrier nine.

Ojai wins the Kirkham Plate at Randwick on October 23

Suave is the only other Godolphin charge at Rosehill and he wraps up the meeting in the Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap (1400m).

Cummings said the six-year-old, who has only raced 10 times, could be ready for a step up in distance after three runs at 1400m already this time in but can’t fault the form of his second to Promise Of Success three weeks ago.

“We like the fact that horse, after a long time out, has been racing consistently with a win and couple of solid efforts to his name already this prep,’’ he said.

“He might be looking for a little bit further but he’s had three weeks between runs and he can run very well again.”

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