Trainer James Cummings has Cascadian primed to defend All Aged Stakes title

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is upbeat about stable warhorse Cascadian’s chances of becoming a rare dual winner of the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Since the All Aged was first run way back in 1865, the race has had only 11 multiple winners including champion Ajax’s hat-trick in 1938-39-40.

But only two horses in more than 40 years have won two All Aged Stakes – legendary mare Sunline in 2000 and 2002, and Kiwi champ Rough Habit in 1992-93.

Cascadian, a last start winner of the Australian Cup at 2000m, won the All Aged Stakes at $11 and is at similar odds again for the final Group 1 race in Sydney this season.

“It’s do-able, I reckon,” Cummings said asked how Cascadian will cope coming from 2000m back to 1400m.

“He’s the defending champion from last year. It will be a very interesting race to finish off what’s been an excellent Sydney carnival.”

Cummings, who has prepared 11 Group 1 winners already this season, also has last week’s Fernhill Mile winner Tom Kitten backing up in the Group 1 $600,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m).

“He (Tom Kitten) was excellent when he got clear with less than 200m to go last weekend, he savaged the line,” Cummings said.

“He’s the only proven miler in the race now, He’s a chance to mix it with those horses.

“There’ll be a lot more pressure in this race, as you’d expect going from a Listed to a Group 1, but if there’s a two-year-old I’ve got in training who will cope with that pressure over a mile, it would be Tom Kitten.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)

1200m: 6,7,5,4

1400m: 2,1,7,3

1600m: 3,2,4,1

2000m: 2,1,5,6

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1: Osipenko $2.30-$1.90 with bets of $1,430 at $2.40, $1,000 at $2.20, $2,100 at $2.20, $2,000 at $2.15, $2,000 at $2.10 twice, $2,222 at $1.95, Pericles $2.15-$2.40

Race 2: Lisztomania $13-$12, Preemptory $10-$6 with a $600 bet at $10, Remlaps Commander $5.50-$5

Race 3: Floating $2.80-$2.40 after bets of $600 at $2.80, $1,500 at $2.70, Anythink Goes $26-$15, Speed Legend $26-$12, Bundeena $11-$8.50

Race 4: Magic Time $1.90-$1.75 with bets of $9,900 at $1.85 twice, $3,000 at $1.85 multiple times, Olentia $13-$6 with a $250 e/w bet at $9/$1.95

Race 5: Vilana $3-$2.50 after bets of $2,000 at $2.80, $1,200 at $2.70, $1,300 at $2.60, $1,334 at $2.50, Juan Diva $26-$19

Race 6: Sunshine Rising $7.50-$6.50, Protagonist $7.50-$5.50 with bets of $1,000 at $6, $600 at $6, Pride Of Jenni $19-$13

Race 7: Don Corleone $4.60-$3.70, Militarize $2.80-$1.95 after bets of $2,000 at $2.90, $700 at $2.60, $1,000 at $2.40, $800 at $2.40 multiple times, $1,600 at $2.30 twice, $2,000 at $2.20 twice, $2,000 at $2.10 multiple times

Race 8: Jacquinot firm at 8 despite a bet of $2,200 at those odds, Giga Kick $3.60-$3 after bets of $1,000 at $3.10 twice, $1,000 at $3 multiple times, $1,200 at $2.80 twice, $1,000 at $2.80

Race 9: Welwal $11-$9.50, Tamerlane $4.60-$4.40 including a bet of $1,250 at $4.20, Cotehele $8-$3.90 after bets of $2,300 at $4.80, $650 at $4.20, $700 at $4

Race 10: Democracy Manifest $5-$3.80 with bets of $500 at $5.50 twice, $550 at $4.80, $600 at $4.60, $700 at $4.20, Substantial $13-$6, Hellfest $13-$9.50, Rocket Tiger $23-$19

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 1,5,7,15

Race 4: 1,3

Race 5: 1,5,6,9

Race 6: 1,2,7,14

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1,2,4

Race 8: 1,5,11,12

Race 9: 5,6,12,16

Race 10: 1,9,11

PRICE CHECK

Magic Time (race 4) has been sensationally backed from $1.90-$1.75 after some huge bets including $9,900 at $1.85 twice and $3,000 at $1.85 multiple times. Militarize (race 7) has been the best backed runner on the program, firming from $2.80-$1.95 after consistent support including $2,000 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.40, $1,600 at $2.30 twice, $2,000 at $2.20 twice and $2,000 at $2.10 multiple times

TRIAL POINTERS

Renaissance Woman (race 4) was bought for a $250,000 at Karaka in 2021 but is shaping up as something of a bargain given that she has won $180,000 already and is worth a small fortune at stud as a broodmare later on being a Group 3 winning daughter of Reliable Man and better still, a great granddaughter of Lady Jakeo. The Bjorn Baker-trained three-year-old resumes in the James H B Carr Stakes on Saturday but couldn’t have been any more impressive winning her Rosehill trial on March 27.

(race 6) like the aforementioned Renaissance Woman was bred (and retained) by Gerry Harvey and was foaled at his New Zealand stud, Westbury Stud at Matamata. Pink Ivory is the ninth foal of dual Group 1 winner Lotteria. A winner of three from 13, the John Sargent-trained JRA Plate hopeful came from a long way back to finish fourth to stablemate Gin Martini in the Epona on March 18 and has been kept up to the mark for her weekend assignment with an unhurried sixth of nine in an April 3 1200m heat at Randwick.

SECTIONAL STARS

Osipenko (race 1) is a son of Pierro, in-bred to Sadler’s Wells. Foaled in New Zealand, Osipenko was purchased at the Karaka Yearling Sale in 2021 for $160,00 by Chris Waller and has well and truly paid for himself winning close to $700,000 from just eight starts. Osipenko has a grand opportunity to add another $109,000 to his tally should be take out the Group 3 ATC Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday two weeks after his eye-catching sixth of 20 in the Doncaster Mile.

Floating (race 3) is a grey son of his grey father Puissance De Lune who stands at Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud in Victoria. Floating has a tidy strike-rate of 10 starts, two wins, three seconds and a third. The Matthew Smith-trained four-year-old has a whirlwind finish which should be ideally catered for in a potentially solidly run Midway over 1400m on the spacious Randwick track. Just missed last start at Warwick Farm and handles the heavy.”

BEST BET

Magic Time (race 4) scored a stunning first-up win in the PJ Bell Stakes, powering clear of her rivals to win by a widening margin. Highly promising filly unbeaten in three starts, proven at 1400m and handles wet tracks. Bad luck in running is her biggest danger.

VALUE BET

Huetor (race 6) has been improved by recent racing and wasn’t beaten far when fifth to Zeyrek in the Neville Sellwood Stakes three weeks ago. As a Group 1 winner, Huetor is nicely placed in the JRA Plate and suited by the Randwick 2000m. If the track stays in the soft range, he will be very competitive and is over the odds at $10.

THE JUDGMENT

R6: JRA Plate (2000m)

Richard Haynes (TAB): “I’m looking wide and feel Mount Popa might be ready to show up. We only have to go back 12 months when, on a heavy track, he ran the race of his life for a third placing in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Think It Over. He has a great second-up record, he’ll get back from his barrier, but I can see him motoring up the Randwick straight to give you a sight at good odds. Huetor doesn’t mind the soft conditions and should be at his peak now. He gets the perfect run from his barrier, and this is a very winnable race for him. Cadre Du Noir hasn’t done much in two runs back, but he loves a wet track, and he should be fitter now. Protagonist is no doubt a quality animal and must rate a chance, but he’s unknown in these conditions.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Big throw at the stumps here with Cadre Du Noir. What do you say? He comes off two runs this time in running last and second last but his most recent start should have been much closer after being held up approaching turn to about the 200m. He has won third-up in the past, the blinkers are going back on and all Australian wins are with shades on. Likely to roll forward from outside and sit handy. Handles wet.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Looks an open race with the favourite Protagonist currently sitting around the $6 mark. There has been good each way money for the Chris Waller trained Quality Time who opened at $15 but has been wound into $10. Huetor has been underwhelming this prep but he is a Group 1 winner and should get a soft run from barrier 4. He goes on top for me at double figure odds.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Open affair and we are betting currently $6 the field. Protagonist has been the best supported early $7-$6 and is now favourite. Outside the market there’s been a good push for Great House $51-$26 and Pride of Jenni $17-$12. Looks a lottery and no early position for us.”

Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “Our customers are backing Protagonist to bounce back from a sub-par Doncaster in this one. He’s the best backed with us to date which has seen our traders wind him in from $7.50 to $5.50.”

Verdict: Protagonist

R7: Champagne (1600m)

Richard Haynes (TAB): “I think he’s way too short in the market, but the fashion in which he won the Sires Produce Stakes means I have to be with Militarize here. He gets a nice run midfield and if he lets down with the same sprint from a fortnight ago, he should be too good again. Tom Kitten was a most impressive winner of the Fernhill Mile seven days ago, he ran the 1600m out strongly on a Heavy 8 surface. Don Corleone has had a busy two-year-old season but is handling things really well, he’s a classy colt and will figure somewhere in the finish. I thought Townsend stuck on quite well in last week’s Fernhill, he’ll be on speed and might be hard to run down again.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “The field comprises four of the first five across the line in the Sires and the first four from last Saturday’s Fernhill. Surely the Sires is the strongest lead up. Militarize brained them after finding the better going but he was strong through the line giving no concerns as he stretches out another 200m here. Got through ground with aplomb so that isn’t a concern at all.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Militarize started his career in fine fashion before finishing well back in the Golden Slipper. I’m not sure he was 100% there as he came out next start and gave them a galloping lesson in the Group 1 Sires Produce beating Don Corleone by three and a half lengths. That is a big margin and they will both carry the same weight here. Joao Moreira sticks with him and he looks very hard to beat.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Militarize does look hard to beat here. Relished the fast tempo in the Sires and put them to the sword like a horse who’ll relish stepping to the mile. Gets similar conditions and not much opposition. The punters agree as he’s been $2.60-$2.10 since Wednesday. Tom Kitten worth a saver on the back up.”

Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “All the money is with Militarize here. He currently holds 68 per cent of all investments with us. Outside of the favourite, Tom Kitten has seen some good specking at double figure odds.”

Verdict: Militarize

R8: All Aged Stakes (1400m)

Richard Haynes (TAB): “This is a top-class field but I’m not sure any of them have a finishing burst quite like Giga Kick. We know he’s likely to settle last in the run, but if he’s held his form watch out for his withering sprint up the Randwick straight, and a heavy track is no concern. Mazu has done little wrong this preparation and is well up to this opposition. The wider draw should give him nice galloping room and he’s arguably the best wet tracker in the race. Sticking with the swoopers, Cascadian adds plenty of interest after his outstanding Australian Cup win, he returns to a track he loves and will be very strong late in proceedings. Zaaki is a great horse, I’d like to see how he parades as he’s taking on some tough and fit horses.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Hoping the wetter, the better for Cascadian here as there are a number of queries on others either on wet or at 1400m. Comes back from a devastating win in the Australian Cup which followed a runner-up slot in the All Star Mile and has had three weeks to freshen. Won and placed in this race over the last two runnings and they were off a Doncaster win and midfield result. Randwick record is great and so is a double figure quote.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Giga Kick has been excellent this prep. It is his first go past 1200m but all indications are he will handle it and he will be running on hardest late. He has drifted slightly from his opening quote as punters are wary at the perceived lack of tempo and we might get a better price at the jump. Hard to know what to do with Zaaki but if he is anywhere near his best, he will be fighting out the finish.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “We are laying Giga Kick at the 1400m and also Zaaki who we don’t think is going any good. Give great hopes to Jacquinot back to the seven and Private Eye, who you just have to forgive out of the TJ. He exploded third-up last prep and will be strong late. Cascadian, last year’s winner, not without a hope either. We’ll be making a book around those runners.”

Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “What a way to round out the Sydney Autumn carnival. Giga Kick has been huge this prep and looks the one to beat here. The TAB Everest winner is the best backed runner with us ahead of Cascadian and Jacquinot. Keep an eye out for Cascadian at the price.”