Cascadian lands a second G1 Australian Cup

Posted by RS NewsWire at 9:14pm on March 30th

Trainer James Cummings and jockey Ben Melham have combined to claim back-to-back victories in the Australian Cup at Flemington.

Like he did 12 months ago, Godolphin galloper Cascadian backed up from a placing in the All-Star Mile (1600m) to claim to the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest on Saturday.

Cascadian ($7.50) wore down the leader Pride Of Jenni ($3.60) to score by a half-head with Atishu ($4.80) a further 1-¾ lengths away third.

Melham said his confidence grew in Cascadian when he paraded the nine-year-old on his way to the barrier.

“I tell you what, if I could ever declare a horse on the way to the barrier, this is him,” Melham said.

“He couldn’t have been in better order which gave me the confidence to ride him like I wanted to.

“He loves pinching runs and sneaking around the place and to see horses his age still beating the best horses in the land, at this trip, is phenomenal to see.

“It’s a massive feat for him to win two in a row.”

Cascadian followed the deeds of Harlem in 2018 & 2019 to land back-to-back victories in the Australian Cup.

Cummings’ assistant trainer Nacim Delmi said the Godolphin team knew tactics would be tricky with Pride Of Jenni engaged in the race.

Pride Of Jenni was given time to find the lead before gradually increasing the tempo from the 800m mark, leading by five lengths turning for home.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was still three lengths in front at 300m mark and wasn’t grabbed until the shadows of the post.

“We knew tactics were going to be tricky obviously with Pride Of Jenni over the 2000 metres and Declan (Bates) rode a great race,” Delmi said.

“But the tempo suited him (Cascadian) perfectly. When they came up to the top of the straight and he was travelling we knew he was going to give it a good shake.

“Once he peeled out and Ben Melham timed it perfectly, it was great.”

Delmi said Cascadian was an easy horse to deal with and seemed to be getting better with age.

“He (officially) turned nine on Tuesday,” Delmi said.

“He carries on like a young horse and he’s still got so much racing in him.

“He’s just such a good horse to have in the stables. You’d love to have ten of him in the stables.”

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...

Dec 21st

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...

Dec 21st

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...

Dec 21st

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...

Dec 21st

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...

Dec 21st

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...

Dec 21st

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...

Dec 20th

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...

Dec 20th

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...

Dec 20th

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...

Dec 20th