Friday, 29th March 2024
All enquiries - Gary Knowles 0406 599 773
  • An Almost Perfect Day for Godolphin

    Monday, 12th April 2021

    Like the quaddie players forced to reflect on the one leg that got away, Godolphin would have finished Saturday delighted with exceptional returns on Day-1 of The Championships but still harbouring a single regret. Juvenile Anamoe (Street Boss) will probably head to the spelling paddock after a Gr1 Sires’ Produce (1400m) victory that was as one-sided as the proverbial village cricket side taking on a Test XI. Whilst a long spell is understandable – he looks a frightening 3YO prospect – Anamoe (see below) would appear to have the Gr1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at his mercy if he fronts up. The Gr1 Doncaster Mile triumph by Cascadian (New Approach) under Rachel King was little surprise after he’d rattled home to be beaten just a length by Think It Over (a late scratching on the weekend) in the recent Gr1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) when inconvenienced early in the race. Cascadian was backed from $17 on Tuesday to start at $8 on Saturday. Ditto the ‘other’ blue army 2YOs Paulele (Dawn Approach), who won the Gr3 Widden Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), and the Frosted (Tapit) fillies Cloudy and Translation who finished one-two in Adelaide’s Listed Dequetteville Stakes (1050m). It’s hard to know what to make of the disappointing Gr1 TJ Smith (1200m) run by Bivouac (Exceed and Excel) who was reportedly flying ahead of the race but nonetheless drifted late from $3.80 to $4.80. The world champion sprinter who is armed with a V8 motor is lengths better than that, and Godolphin Australia’s CEO Vin Cox and head-trainer James Cummings may choose to bypass a possible trip to Royal Ascot and, instead, allow the popular son of Exceed and Excel (Danehill) to enjoy the next 5 months relaxing ahead of his eagerly awaited stud debut.