Latest news with #KingsfordSmithCup
The Age
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Cummings backs Golden Mile to challenge for farewell Godolphin group 1
On the quick back-up from the biggest decision of his career, James Cummings is confident Golden Mile can handle a short turnaround and push to give him a final group 1 win as head trainer of Godolphin Australia on Saturday in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). Already set to end his eight-year tenure at Godolphin on July 31, Cummings announced on Wednesday at a press conference in Sha Tin that he had accepted an invitation to train in Hong Kong from September next year and he was having next season off to refresh and prepare for the move. The life-changing decision came as he tries to score a final elite-level win with Godolphin, who look unlikely to have a contender for the last group 1 of the season, the Tatts Tiara on June 28. That leaves the Stradbroke and JJ Atkins (1600m) on Saturday at Eagle Farm as perhaps the last opportunities as a farewell major for Cummings, who has landed 52 group 1s. Last Saturday, Golden Mile was a brave third in a thrilling finish to the group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m). After working early to sit outside leader Zarastro, Golden Mile looked to have edged ahead late before Joliestar swooped to nab a resurgent Zarastro in a photo finish, with Golden Mile close behind. In the other group 1s, Pinito fell just short of You Wahng in the Queensland Oaks and Lavalier was one and a half lengths back in fourth in the Derby. Cummings felt Golden Mile, which returned to racing this season after his stud career was ended by injury after covering just 14 mares, could be in the finish again. He was a $9 Sportsbet chance from gate two with Jason Collett aboard again. 'In the midst of all this going on, we've been focusing on training horses,' Cummings said.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Cummings backs Golden Mile to challenge for farewell Godolphin group 1
On the quick back-up from the biggest decision of his career, James Cummings is confident Golden Mile can handle a short turnaround and push to give him a final group 1 win as head trainer of Godolphin Australia on Saturday in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). Already set to end his eight-year tenure at Godolphin on July 31, Cummings announced on Wednesday at a press conference in Sha Tin that he had accepted an invitation to train in Hong Kong from September next year and he was having next season off to refresh and prepare for the move. The life-changing decision came as he tries to score a final elite-level win with Godolphin, who look unlikely to have a contender for the last group 1 of the season, the Tatts Tiara on June 28. That leaves the Stradbroke and JJ Atkins (1600m) on Saturday at Eagle Farm as perhaps the last opportunities as a farewell major for Cummings, who has landed 52 group 1s. Last Saturday, Golden Mile was a brave third in a thrilling finish to the group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m). After working early to sit outside leader Zarastro, Golden Mile looked to have edged ahead late before Joliestar swooped to nab a resurgent Zarastro in a photo finish, with Golden Mile close behind. In the other group 1s, Pinito fell just short of You Wahng in the Queensland Oaks and Lavalier was one and a half lengths back in fourth in the Derby. Cummings felt Golden Mile, which returned to racing this season after his stud career was ended by injury after covering just 14 mares, could be in the finish again. He was a $9 Sportsbet chance from gate two with Jason Collett aboard again. 'In the midst of all this going on, we've been focusing on training horses,' Cummings said.
Courier-Mail
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Golden Mile can give James Cummings farewell Group 1 win with Godolphin in Stradbroke Handicap
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. James Cummings believes it will be a fairytale story if Golden Mile can win this week's Stradbroke Handicap in the gelding's remarkable comeback from retirement. And Sydney trainer Cummings is confident that Golden Mile will handle the seven-day back-up following his third placing in last Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, with Jason Collett on board. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Golden Mile was briefly stood for $16,500 at Sheikh Mohammed's Northwood Park Victorian base last season but he was injured after covering 14 mares. He was then retired from stud duty and gelded, returning to the racetrack in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on March 1 when he finished sixth, 3¼ lengths behind Iowna Merc. Cummings isn't interested in talk about the Stradbroke being one of the weakest fields in many years – he just wants to win Queensland's premier race for the first time since 2019 (Trekking) in his final season with powerhouse stable Godolphin. It was announced late last month that Cummings and Godolphin would split at the end of July after an eight-year partnership, with the Dubai-based stable to adopt a public training model. Golden Mile (second from left) will back-up in the Stradbroke Handicap after just missing in the Kingsford Smith Cup. Picture: Trackside Photography 'I always say try and win it,' Cummings said of the 1400m Stradbroke. 'It'd be a great story for Golden Mile, who has come back from stud duties and he's been warming to a win. 'If he can get that in this prep in the Stradbroke, that'd be some feat to pull off and all the accolades would go to Golden Mile himself. 'I wouldn't seek to diminish the depth of the field at all and I haven't seen the final field either. 'What I would say is that good Group 1 weight-for-age form should be golden form.' • Stanley dreaming of Stradbroke win to make grandad proud And Golden Mile certainly has that form after finishing a fraction behind superstar mare Joliestar and Zarastro in a thrilling Kingsford Smith Cup. 'He was excellent and he's been building up to that,' Cummings said. 'A bit over a month ago he screamed home for third in the (Group 2) Victory Stakes and that had him back in the form he was 12 months ago, just prior to him going to stud. 'It's been a slow burn to get him up to where he is now but to give a sight in a Group 1 against Joliestar and to defeat some very good Group 1 sprinters in his final lead-up run to the Stradbroke, where he drops to 53.5 kilos, is a very good recipe. 'He should be an even better horse out to 1400m, a little bit further under the handicap conditions that we'll see this week.' • Gollan faces more Stradbroke heartbreak by prizemoney rule Collett will again ride Golden Mile in the $3m Stradbroke at Eagle Farm, just seven days after the gelding's massive run on a soft track at the same venue. 'I've never backed him up before,' Cummings revealed about the 2022 Caulfield Guineas winner. 'I've pushed him in the past to go another run and he's rewarded us because he's a very tough horse. 'While I've never done it before, I was drawn to the idea to persevere with that program for the Stradbroke. 'I'd say I'd be confident, without having done it before, that he would be the type of horse who would relish the back-up.' Originally published as Comeback star Golden Mile can give James Cummings farewell Group 1 win with Godolphin in Stradbroke Handicap
Mercury
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Rise At Dawn given the go ahead for the Stradbroke
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Lindsay Park may never get a better chance to break its Stradbroke Handicap duck after co-trainer Ben Hayes gave Rise At Dawn the green light to join a vaunted attack on Queensland's greatest race. The famous racing dynasty has never won the Stradbroke but has raging $2.80 favourite War Machine, the sizzling winner of the BRC Sprint, and $8 second betting fancy Rise At Dawn. Rise At Dawn finished 2-1/2 lengths off Joliestar in Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup and Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, is keen to give him a Group 1 shot seven days later. Rise At Dawn carried 59kg in the Kingsford Smith Cup, but now plunges to 52.5kg in the Stradbroke. 'I was quite happy with his run on Saturday as he was racing at short of his best trip and was racing at weight-for-age against some of the best sprinters in Australia,' Hayes said. 'He sat in behind the speed, he held his run right to the line and looks to have pulled up well. 'He now drops a stack in weight so that's a huge thing.' READ: Zac on rare quest to score consecutive Stradbroke Handicaps Can Ben, Will and JD Hayes (L to R) upstage dad David Hayes, pictured here with his wife and the boys mum Prue Hayes, by winning a Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday? Photo :. There have been few Stradbroke contenders in history who have been a shorter price than what War Machine is six days out from the great race. Hayes indicated War Machine had improved from the last time he was seen at the races, when blowing away his opposition and stamping his Stradbroke ticket when dominating his rivals by 2-3/4 lengths in the BRC Sprint. Hayes said both War Machine and Rise At Dawn had golden chances in the $3 million Group 1 handicap. READ: Inquiry into jockey altercation set to resume in Stradbroke week 'Fingers crossed, you can have the two favourites but you can still get beat, but to be honest I couldn't be happier with both of these horses,' Hayes said. 'Either one of them could win. 'The big boy (War Machine) is well. 'His last run was a perfect tune-up for the Straddy and he is a very progressive horse who gets in with 53kg. 'He's a horse who is a bit lazy in trackwork, like Mr Brightside, but he turns up race day.' War Machine was elevated to Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap favouritism after his dominant win in the BRC Sprint. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography. * Roughie king Maloney strikes again with Derby pick-up ride In other Stradbroke-related news: * Chris Waller gave boom three-year-old colt Angel Capital an exhibition gallop at the Gold Coast races on Saturday. It is likely Angel Capital would make the Stradbroke final field cut-off, but Waller is undecided about whether to race the Yulong owned youngster. * Matt Dale is strongly considering giving evergreen veteran Front Page a shot at the Stradbroke after winning the Moreton Cup on Saturday. Connections would need to pay a hefty late entry fee and Dale will decide in the next 24 years whether to unleash the rising nine-year-old on the Stradbroke. Dale has never tested Front Page over 1400m but the prospect of a weaker Stradbroke and a week of fine weather may convince connections to deploy the proven Group 1 performer. * Tony Gollan is holding out hope that Transatlantic will sneak into the Stradbroke field. Transatlantic will jump over other contenders in the ballot order after his win in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap on Saturday at Eagle Farm. After narrowly missing the Stradbroke field with Antino and Freedom Rally in the last two years, Gollan hopes Transatlantic has done enough to make the field. He is now a $13 chance. * Trainer Rob Heathcote says Rothfire 'trotted up 95 per cent sound' on Sunday morning in his recovery from a foot injury. 'He's only a slim chance of racing in the Straddy, but he's still a chance,' Heathcote said. Originally published as Lindsay Park's second seed joins vaunted attack on Stradbroke Handicap
The Australian
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Joliestar storms home in Kingsford Smith Cup to deny local fairtyale
The legend of Chris Waller went to a new level as the champion trainer combined with James McDonald to narrowly deny an extraordinary Queensland fairytale at Eagle Farm. Joliestar snatched victory from the jaws of almost certain defeat in the Kingsford Smith Cup to mow down Tony Gollan's Queensland bolter Zarastro and deny jockey Angela Jones her maiden Group 1. It gave Waller his 19th Group 1 of the season, breaking his previous record for the most Group 1 winners in a season in Australia. It was also the first time a female horse had won the Kingsford Smith since Sea Siren saluted in 2012 and Black Caviar a year earlier. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! But this was a race that was about far more than raw statistics. Just about everyone seemed to have it pegged as a clash between Newmarket Handicap champion Joliestar and Giga Kick, the former The Everest champion. But no-one told young Queensland jockey Jones, riding in just her third Group 1 race and only partnering Gollan-trained Zarastro because the race had been rescheduled from the washout a week earlier. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup Zarastro, having his first lash at a Group 1, fought like a caged tiger to head off a challenge from Golden Mile and he looked to be heading for an incredible triumph. Then came Joliestar from so far back that even McDonald thought it was a near impossibility, snatching an incredible last gasp win. Joliestar will almost certainly not contest next Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, with owner Brendan Lindsay saying it's not on the cards. Sights will be set on a revenge mission in this year's The Everest after the Joliestar team felt the mare raced without any luck last year. Waller felt that what ended up being the winning move was McDonald getting Joliestar across ahead of Giga Kick in the early stages. But, watching the race, Waller still felt it was a tall order to be able to run down the leaders. • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page 'It's been hard to run the leaders down today but we discussed things pre-race and we couldn't change our racing pattern,' Waller said. 'James went straight across from the barriers and got in front of Giga Kick and one or two others and that was what probably won him the race. 'Joliestar was off the bridle at the 500(m) but her class got her home. 'We missed out on (winning) The Everest last year, so we would like to have another crack this year.' McDonald described Joliestar as a 'big rocket.' 'She wasn't entitled to win, but that's how good she is,' he said. 'When I looked up at the 600 (m) I thought I was OK. 'Then I got on my bike but as soon as I did that, the pace quickened and the margin went from five lengths turning for home to seven lengths. 'It just didn't feel like I was making ground. 'I was lucky I was on a proper horse, even though she didn't like the ground at Eagle Farm today.' Joliestar returns to scale. Picture: Trackside Photography • Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure There has rarely been a happier second-placed finisher in a Group 1 than Gollan who was proud as punch of Zarastro which started as a $17 chance. 'He ran the race of his life, he was so tough,' Gollan said. 'He was beaten three times down the straight, but he kept putting his head out. 'I couldn't have been prouder of the horse, he hasn't raced in many weeks due to track conditions and things like that. 'Then to go down to such a good, strong race like that and race that well, I'm so happy. 'I knew we got beat on the line but it took a multiple Group 1 winner to beat him. 'I'm very proud of my horse and I'm very proud of Angela.' Giga Kick battled away but could only manage sixth while potential Stradbroke Handicap contender Rise At Dawn was fifth. The connections of Giga Kick said it was one of the few times in his career that he has produced a disappointing run.
