The Godolphin machine
achieved unprecedented success with their juveniles last season claiming
victory in races such as the Group I Golden Slipper (Kiamichi), Blue Diamond Stakes
(Lyre) and Sires Produce (Microphone)as well as the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (Exhilarates)
and Kindergarten Stakes (Bivouac).
It all starts again this weekend with
stakes races for two year-olds in Sydney and Melbourne, so what does James
Cumming think about the next generation.Flying the flag for Godolphin at Royal Randwick in the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes for fillies is In Flanders (2f Exceed and Excel x Matilija, by Medaglia D'Oro (USA).
"In Flanders has for a while gone about things in her understated fashion. The past six weeks have been good to her and her improvement has been excellent. We like the good amount of natural pace she has about her for a filly who won't be the strongest in the enclosure," said James Cummings.
"Her trial win was a reflection of the quantum leap forward she has made, and hopefully she can use her turn of foot to make an impression against a precocious field of two-year-old fillies."
In Flanders is the first foal of Group III placed Medaglia D'Oro (USA ) mare Matilijia, a daughter of Group II winner Romneya, whose Group III winning dam Mannington is from Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay.
In the Group III ATC Breeders Plate, Cummings will saddle Beyliks (2c Lonhro x Ottoman,by Exceed and Excel).
"Beyliks
has been a head-turner right from his earliest days,"
"His trial win was professional, he is very forward and he has progressed stylishly for a colt with such scope so early in the season. In a race that demands a top winning performance every year, we would be strongly encouraged to see a horse like him be in the finish."
He is the first foal from Exceed and Excel's former brilliant Group III winning juvenile Ottoman and is bred on a highly successful nick with Lonhro and Exceed and Excel combining in the pedigrees of nine stakes-winners headed by Bounding, who produced that $4.1 million colt at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, also recent stylish Group III winner Manicure.
Lining up in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial at Flemington is Jerle (2c Exceed and Excel x Shannara, by Octagonal), whose dam Shannara is a stakes-winning sister to champion racehorse and sire Lonhro and Group I winner Niello.
"Jerle is a very forward colt, beautifully bred and a good style of horse. We feel he has come on nicely since his Flemington trial up the straight and he will look the part in the enclosure," Cummings added.
