Written by Paul Vettise
Godolphin went close to success in the inaugural running of the $5 million All-Star Mile and head trainer James Cummings believes the stable has a strong chance of going one better this time around with Flit (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Cummings produced the now-retired Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) to finish runner-up 12 months ago while stablemate Alizee (Sepoy) finished third behind Mystic Journey (Needs Further).
The winner of the G1 Thousand Guineas in the spring, Flit is in good form to take on older opposition in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield on Saturday.
She successfully resumed with victory in the G2 Light Fingers S. at Randwick and returned there to finish sixth in the G1 Surround S.
“She is in very good shape and arrives third-up and ready to run a really good race,” Cummings said. “She profiles well as a 3-year-old filly that has already established herself as a Group 1 winner and we saw the form she resumed in.
“It hasn’t been a simple choice to make between the All-Star Mile and the Coolmore Classic.
“As a Group 1 winner she is quite well-placed here with 54kg, which is one of the more compelling aspects of the All-Star Mile. A 56.5kg impost faced her in the Coolmore.
“As a Group 1 winner she is quite well-placed here with 54kg, which is one of the more compelling aspects of the All-Star Mile.” – James Cummings
“I’d like to think she’s improved from the Surround. It strikes us that she has thrived more since that race. The All-Star Mile is a race of prodigious strength, but she’s something of a prodigy in her own right. She can run a race.”
Flit will be ridden by the in-form Damien Lane with the only negative the outside gate. She has, however, showed versatility in her races and has won from both on the pace and from back in the field.
Pohutukawa
Godolphin’s G1 Coolmore Classic hopes at Rosehill will now rest with Pohutukawa (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and ironically, her lack of recent success has her ideally placed in the event.
“On one hand, she hasn’t won for 12 months, but on the other it means she is well-weighted in this race,” Cummings said.
“She’s also gone close in a Group 1 during that time and ran well enough in the Empire Rose in Melbourne.”
“She’s also gone close in a Group 1 during that time and ran well enough in the Empire Rose in Melbourne.” – James Cummings
Pohutukawa finished runner-up in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara during the Queensland winter carnival and seventh in the G1 Empire Rose S. during the Melbourne spring carnival.
“I could certainly make a case for her on the strength of those performances and her two runs this time in have been solid. Last start she surged home in the Guy Walter in what was a very encouraging run,” Cummings said.
Stablemate Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) will look to get his Group 1 hopes back on track when he runs in the G2 Hyland Race Colours Ajax S.
Cascadian (GB)
“This will be a vital run for him to put his Doncaster H. credentials on the line,” Cummings said.
Third in the G1 Cantala S. in the spring, Cascadian was runner-up in the G3 Southern Cross S. when resuming and was then involved in a home straight scrimmage when beaten into fifth in the G3 Liverpool City Cup last time out.
“It hasn’t done his Doncaster prospects a lot of good, so there’s a bit more significance attached to what he does here,” Cummings said.
Group 1 winners thriving
Meanwhile, his Group 1 winning stablemates Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) and Microphone (Exceed And Excel) have both come through their last runs in fine nick.
Bivouac has come through his win in the G1 Newmarket H. in fine nick
Bivouac was dynamic in winning the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington where last season’s G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S. winner Microphone was a gallant second in the G1 Randwick Guineas in his first test over 1600 metres.
“They both come through their runs very well,” Cummings said. “Bivouac is going to run in the G1 William Reid S. and the G1 TJ Smith S. he is also nominated for the G1 Doncaster. We haven’t decided exactly where Microphone will be running next.”
