Victoria Derby path ahead for Ataraxia

Tom Walter - Saturday September 30

Godolphin head trainer James Cummings believes the Victoria Derby is within reach of Saturday's Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) winner Ataraxia.

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Jockey Michael Walker salutes after winning the Listed Dulcify Quality aboard Ataraxia at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart

Ataraxia ($7.50), ridden by Michael Walker, made the most of a charmed run behind the leaders to win the $125,000 contest by a half neck.

The Hawkes Racing-trained Dissolution ($6) ran on late into second while Chris Waller's Sambro ($4 fav) was beaten another short neck for third after absorbing a strong pace in front.

Ataraxia is a half-brother to Godolphin's retired stallion Complacent, a supremely talented stayer whose career was cruelled by injury.

Complacent found one better in Polanski in the 2013 Victoria Derby but Ataraxia could get an opportunity to better his sibling's effort later this spring, according to Cummings.

"He'll get out to a mile and a quarter, he's a half-brother to Complacent who was a pretty serious weight-for-age horse," Cummings said.

"He's a really strong colt on the 10-day back up here and was unlucky against the older horses last start.

"The Dulcify looked the perfect race for him and we think he'll be an interesting runner in a race like the Norman Robinson and if he can keep rising he might even be a Derby horse for us."

The Group III Norman Robinson (2000m), also referred to as the Ladbrokes Classic, is scheduled for October 21 at Caulfield, two weeks before the Group I Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

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