Brilliant Schofield ride guides unbeaten Libertad to San Domenico victory

The Harry Angel colt won the Fernhill Handicap as a two-year-old and had been earmarked as Godolphin’s Spring Champion Stakes colt, but Tom Kitten ($11) showed surprising dash to come over Kintyre ($21) to win by a long neck with Encap ($11) a half-length away in third.

“I was thinking a couple of weeks ago that he has Spring Champion written all over him. He could have other races on the way there as well,” Cummings said.

“We will make sure that he is still in the (Golden Rose) noms. It’s a month away and he could go straight there. He probably has got a bit to do to convince me that he is going to be quick enough at seven against those horses, but you never know. High pressure at seven furlongs can throw up some interesting things.”

The strength of the win didn’t surprise jockey Nash Rawiller, who thinks there is more to come from Tom Kitten.

“He’s a horse you will never find the bottom of; he has gears,” Rawiller said. “When you have had a bit to do with them as a young horse and they come back like this it’s pretty exciting.”

McDonald has eight of the best

James McDonald has made winning a habit in the past week, notching up eight winners in nine rides from Randwick’s Kensington meeting to Gosford and Rosehill.

He finished Wednesday with a winning double on Amor Victorious and Stromus before three from three with Mexico, Captain Amelia and Stanislaus at Gosford. On Saturday at Rosehill, he added another treble to start the day as Wineglass Bay, Marquess and Xtravagent Star kept punters happy.

“I don’t think I have done that before in my life. It’s a pretty good run,” McDonald said.

Wineglass Bay could back up in Friday’s Wyong Cup after wearing down Too Much Caviar at the end of 2000m.

“He needed that win to show he could still do it,” trainer Chris Waller said. “We could back him up into the Wyong Cup but I think he will get better over further and a race like the Metropolitan could be there for him.”

Neasham fined $4000 for a positive swab

Warwick Farm trainer Annabel Neasham was fined $4000 after four-year-old gelding Token Capitialist was found to have altrenogest in his system in a post-race blood sample at Gosford in May.

Token Capitalist was disqualified as the winner of the Benchmark 72 on Coast Day after Neasham pleaded guilty to a presentation charge.

Stewards found the positive result was more than likely a result of contamination and Neasham’s penalty was reduced $6000 to $4000 because of her cooperation during the inquiry.

Hall of Fame hoop set to call it a day

It’s set to be the last spring for a hall of fame jockey, who is rumoured to have done a media deal to announce his retirement in the next week.

There will be sit-down interview to discuss his stellar career, which at times has been controversial, and he will hang up the saddle before Christmas.

James Cummings continues to have a fine record with Godolphin geldings and will look to qualify Marquess for the Big Dance after his fourth consecutive win at Rosehill on Saturday.

The son of Tavistock returned a gelding this time in and won midweek at Warwick Farm and didn’t let favourite punters down as he beat Danish Prince and Gracilistyla.

“He’s got a good base for the rest of his campaign and now we can aim at a couple of targets,” Cummings said. “He might be able to get further, and he’s going about it the right way now. It would be nice to win a Bathurst Cup with him and the 1800m should be a problem. He is improving and to get him into the Big Dance is a good aim for him.”