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 G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Aussie Bred Asfoora Wins Third G1 on Arc Day in France
Victorians breeders celebrated overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora returning to her dazzling best on one of the world’s biggest stages to win the Group I Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m) with a scintillating performance on Arc Day in France.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 5
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Aga Khan Homebred 3YO Colt Wins Arc in a Thriller
The Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) was run overnight at Longchamp and one of the world’s great races produced a thriller with blueblood €1.85 millionsale-topping Frankel filly Minnie Hauk going down by a head to the Aga Khan homebred Seat the Stars colt Daryz.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.