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.

Advertisement
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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi bred Jimmysstar Wins Crackerjack G1 All Aged
Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar has stamped himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in Australia with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Instructor Delivers a Lesson in Listed Hareeba
Winner of the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview at two, four year-old Russian Revolution gelding The Instructor has had some lengthy spells in his career to date, but has been at his best since returning to racing this year and gave everything he had to cling on and win the $200,000 Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m).
Doctor Askar Wins G3 Easter Handicap
Saturday’s Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie capped a rapid and popular rise to stardom for Waverley visitor Doctor Askar.
Sires With Winners - Saturday April 19
Here is the full list of 121 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for King Kapa
A stable favourite with the Tony Gollan yard, six year-old Capitalist gelding King Kapa is always in the mix somewhere in his races and managed to get his head in front at Eagle Farm on Saturday to take out the $160,000 Listed BRC Ascot Quality (1000m).
Kiwi Bred Bankers Choice wins Mornington Cup
Versatile Kiwi-bred galloper Bankers Choice has provided himself with a shot at one of the biggest prizes on the Victorian spring racing calendar with victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m).
Yulong Chasing Another Oaks with Movin Out
Kiwi-bred filly Movin Out made a successful switch from Sydney racing to a tilt at Victorian riches when she came from well back to race to a dominant victory in the $150,000 Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Spirit Of Boom Brings Up 30th Stakes Winner
Off the back of a last start 1200m victory at Eagle Farm, Tony Gollan’s 3yo gelding Boomtown Boss stepped up to 1400m for the first time in his career, taking out the Listed BRC Daybreak Lover to become the 30th stakes winner for Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom.
Helsinge Family Strikes Again in G1 Champagne
From a clear last at the top of the straight to what seemed an unlikely first at the winning post, exciting Brutal colt Nepotism produced a scintillating performance to win the $1million Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Consecutive Hall Mark Stakes Wins For Mazu
Taking his earnings past $9m for Triple Crown Syndications, the Joe Pride trained Mazu (Maurice) hasn’t won since this meeting last year but put the writing on the wall at his last two starts before going back-to-back in the Group 3 ATC Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.