Godolphin to sort out Victoria Derby prospects 'on the pitch'

Ben Dorries - Thursday October 19

James Cummings says he is keen to let Godolphin's Victoria Derby candidates sort themselves out "on the pitch".

Advertisement
James Cummings thinks three-year-old Godolphin colt Ataraxia is a big improver but says he will need to be Photo: Darryl Sherer

And that's part of the plan to see if Ataraxia has improved sufficiently to contend in Saturday's Group III Ladbrokes Classic at Caulfield (2000m) and be a serious Derby prospect.

A lot has changed for Cummings since he won last year's Victoria Derby with Prized Icon, being appointed as Godolphin's Australian head trainer in May.

But Cummings has a chance of back-to-back Derby wins with several hopefuls, including last start Dulcify Classic winner Ataraxia.

In latest Derby betting markets, Ataraxia is rated at $21 and is only marginally behind Godolphin stablemate Sanctioned ($17) which ran eighth in last week's Caulfield Guineas.

Another Godolphin colt, Animalia, is currently priced at $26 in Derby markets.

Cummings feels Ataraxia, at $8.50 in Saturday's 2000m Ladbrokes Classic, is a big improver.

But he said the son of Teofilo would need to have improved to beat Tangled ($3.60 fav), which closed in sharply when Tangled fourth in the Dulcify.

Ataraxia now faces the task of confronting Tangled, who then ran a narrow second in the Group I Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), worse at the weights in the set weights conditions of the Ladbrokes Classic.

"I've got a few live chances that are building towards being potential Derby runners … but I will let them sort themselves out on the pitch," Cummings said.

"At set weights Ataraxia is maybe not up to their level yet but he is an improver.

"He rewarded us in the Dulcify and he was really good in that race, albeit getting plenty of weight from Tangled.

"He meets Tangled at set weights and he will have need to have gone to another level to be getting the better of that horse.

"Whether he is ready to do that at this run, or his next, remains to be seen.

"But he certainly looks the part and Saturday's race will be a good test for him as it is a good field with plenty of depth."

Ataraxia will be ridden by Hugh Bowman on Saturday and will jump from the second widest barrier in the eight-horse Ladbrokes Classic field.

As for ageing star Hartnell, Cummings says he remains undecided what to do with the multiple Group I winner.

Hartnell struck trouble in the Group I Ladbrokes Stakes, when he was beaten six lengths by Gailo Chop, but did not appear as though he would have been a threat in the race anyhow.

"We are just giving him an easy week and deciding what to do with him from there," Cummings said.

"We don't have to persevere with him if we don't feel he is up to it."

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.