Extra week helpful for Cascadian ahead of Australian Cup
Cascadian won last year’s Australian Cup on the back-up from the All-Star Mile, but James Cummings is happy the imported gelding has an extra week between the two races this year.
The nine-year-old will look to become just the third back-to-back winner of the race at weight-for-age when he runs in the 2000-metre contest at Flemington this Saturday.
Cascadian heads in off a third placing in the All-Star Mile, the race he ran second in last year, which is one of only four starts this season and Cummings is happy he has extra time to get over the testing 1600m event at Caulfield on March 16.
“Probably this year it’s an advantage, given that I’ve raced him so sparingly in the last 12 months,” Cummings said of the two-week gap.
“Just that little bit more time to get over the All-Star Mile is ideal.
“Last year he was just booming that week and with clear running we just couldn’t see him being held back and he flooded home.
“This time, given he only had the one run (in spring), we’ve just taken our time with him.”
Cascadian’s only appearance last spring was in the Giga Kick Stakes on November 4, while his efforts so far in 2024 are a ninth in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) before the All-Star Mile.
The son of New Approach is one of 12 nominations for the $3 million Australian Cup, alongside Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, the two horses who beat him home in the All-Star Mile.
Star Kiwi mare Legarto, Champions Stakes winner Atishu and Victoria Derby winner Riff Rocket, who won last Saturday’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney, have also been entered.
“Cascadian’s had a good week since the All-Star Mile,” Cummings said.
“His effort to finish third was very solid, he’s just racing so well, and the step up to 10 furlongs looks good now he’s had the right grounding.”
Harlem (2018/19) is the most recent horse to win consecutive Australian Cups, with Vo Rogue the only other to have done so since it settled as a weight-for-age race in 1987.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...
