James Cummings aiming for a Group 1 clean sweep at Randwick

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is relying on his crack squad of young guns to attempt an unprecedented Group 1 clean sweep on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Cummings decided to keep stable warhorse Cascadian for another day and rely on three-year-old Golden Mile in the $4 million The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Glamour three-year-old filly In Secret leads the “Blue Army’s” charge for the $3 million Furphy TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Pericles will take his place in the $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m).

Cylinder, the Golden Slipper runner-up, gets his opportunity to break through at Group 1 level in the $1 million Inglis Sires (1400m).

Cummings, who has trained 11 Group 1 winners already this season, has assembled a formidable team for the iconic Derby-Doncaster meeting that doesn’t include champion Anamoe who is being readied for the $5 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 8.

“We’ve got some good chances in the big races but we will need luck on our side. These Group 1 races are incredibly tough, it’s great racing,” Cummings said.

The final fields and barrier draws for the four Group 1 races were announced on Tuesday with the highlights including:

■ The Doncaster Mile has a full field of 20 plus four emergencies with promising three-year-old and first emergency Osipenko drawing the rails barrier.

■ Trainer Chris Waller has five Doncaster entries – Fangirl, Going Global, Zougotcha, Lindermann and Osipenko.

■ Defending Doncaster champ Mr Brightside is the new TAB Fixed Odds favourite at $5 after drawing perfectly in barrier five.

■ The TJ Smith Stakes has an outstanding field of 15 elite sprinters with The Everest winner Giga Kick (barrier nine) the $3.50 ahead for three-time winner Nature Strip (barrier seven) at $4.50.

■ Sharp ‘N’ Smart is an easing $3 favourite for the ATC Australian Derby after drawing gate 17.

■ Cylinder drew perfectly in barrier four and dominates betting as the $2.10 favourite for the Inglis Sires.

The big-race barrier draws were a mixed bag for Godolphin with Derby hope Pericles drawing well in barrier six, Golden Mile comes out of gate 11 in the Doncaster but In Secret is out in gate 12 in the TJ Smith Stakes while stablemate Paulele starts from three.

Cummings is upbeat about Golden Mile’s chances of producing the ultimate form reversal after the colt ran last to Anamoe in the George Ryder.

“Golden Mile has 51kg which is an attractive light weight for him,” Cummings said.

“In the George Ryder last start, he missed the start and travelled wide so I’m not too concerned he ran unplaced because he has very interesting form for the Doncaster.

“He won the Caulfield Guineas last spring and he beat Communist in the Callander-Presnell over the Randwick mile.

“The second time he has been to Randwick he ran a brilliant fourth in the Canterbury Stakes. He was coming off a setback and was only beaten about a length behind Artorius.

“I think his form reads well. If he can get the right sort of run in the Doncaster, a horse with Golden Mile’s profile is going to be a very interesting runner.”

In Secret, the dual Group 1-winning filly, and stablemate Paulele lines up against a world class field of sprinters in the TJ Smith Stakes.

“We are very keen on how In Secret is going, she has bounced back from her Newmarket (Handicap) win,” Cummings said.

“In Secret has been burning around here (Osborne Park) preparing to take on these really good horses again this time at weight-for-age in the TJ Smith which is the race of the carnival so far.

“She is a Group 1 star as a three-year-old filly and it would be great to see her competitive against our best sprinters at weight-for-age.”

Paulele failed first-up in the Challenge Stakes but pleased Cummings in a barrier trial at Rosehill on Monday.

“What I can say about Paulele since is he has come out of that race he has been charging around at trackwork and I can see him running a good race,” he said. “The race shape could suit him and Joao Moreira will ride the horse.”

Cummings remains confident Pericles will stay the classic distance of 2400m strongly in the ATC Australian Derby despite his narrow loss to Lindermann in the Rosehill Guineas last start.

“Whilst I was very impressed with Pericles winning the Autumn Classic (two starts back) what I was disappointed about in the Rosehill Guineas was he allowed the occasion to get to him,” Cummings said.

“He melted in the enclosure on a hot day. I think it sucked a bit of energy from him.

“Pericles had three weeks between runs and a trip up from Melbourne last start but with two weeks between runs and that galvanising run in the Rosehill Guineas, it will do him the world of good.

“I think he is a middle distance horse with a superior turn of foot and I would love to see him be able to use his acceleration in the Derby.”

Cylinder was run down by Shinzo in the Golden Slipper but Cummings has been buoyed by how well the colt has done leading into the Sires.

“This is not a Group 1 we absolutely have to run Cylinder in,” Cummings said.

“But it is a good opportunity for Cylinder as it is very valuable for his future on a stud roster.

“We want to see the horse is up and about and feeling good and if he trains this week like Microphone a few years ago we will have no qualms going to the Sires. If we run him we will do so with a fair degree of confidence.”