James Cummings is confident multiple group 1 winner Broadsiding can dominate his rivals once again in the Randwick Guineas (G1) March 8, after the 3-year-old colt returned in impressive fashion with a scintillating win in the Hobartville Stakes (G2).
Cummings said the son of Too Darn Hot had bounced out of that performance and continued to enjoy a faultless build-up to Saturday.
“He is humming going home from trackwork, so that’s some insight into how the horse is feeling in the days leading up to it,” the Godolphin trainer said. “He pulled up great. He handled that first-up run very well. Our assessment is he actually handled that better than he handled the win in the Golden Rose first-up last preparation and I’ve been very pleased with him heading into the Guineas.”
Broadsiding has been undefeated at his past six starts in the clockwise direction but is yet to win second-up, and Cummings believes rain will only enhance his chances as he boasts a perfect record on wet tracks.
“He’s got as good a wet track record as anything in that Randwick Guineas,” Cummings said. “It wouldn’t shock me if he was able to begin from the machines as fresh a horse as what we saw first-up in the Hobartville at Rosehill. He demonstrated he was capable of taking up an enviable position in the run and still letting rip at the top of the straight.”
Broadsiding will jump from barrier 4 with James McDonald on board.
Canterbury Stakes
Former Newgate Farm stallion Militarize is set to make his racetrack return in Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes (G1) at Randwick, and trainer Chris Waller is confident the now 4-year-old gelding can continue in the vein he left.
“I’m not concerned about what he’s done off the racetrack. He is so professional he actually doesn’t show tendencies of being ‘colty’ or worrying about other things,” Waller said. “He’s a workman and he has never wavered from that. It is no different to him having an injury and being off the scene for 12 months. Last year he was favorite for the Doncaster with a big weight and he was narrowly beaten.”
Militarize wins the 2023 Champagne Stakes at Randwick Racecourse
Militarize has been in work since November and has been given a lengthy and gradual build-up to the 1,300-meter race, with two official barrier trials and an exhibition gallop at Randwick last weekend, and Waller says he is “ready to go”.
Militarize will jump from barrier 5 with Tommy Berry on board.
Baker Puts His Faith in Stefi Magnetica
Bjorn Baker is hoping Stefi Magnetica can double her group 1-winning tally when she takes her chance in Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes. The Ridgmont-owned 4-year-old mare will be making a comeback having not been seen since her fourth-place finish in the Champions Mile (G1) at Flemington in November, and Baker believes she is in good shape ahead of her first-up task.
“She’s been unlucky throughout her career,” Baker told Racing NSW. “We want a little bit of luck, she’s a bit more mature, she’s definitely up to it, we know that. She’s more forward than she’s been previously so the Canterbury Stakes does suit first-up. She’s going well, I think the draw is good and there looks to be a bit of speed there. It’s going to be a tough race no doubt about it.”
Newmarket Handicap
With the withdrawal of Jimmysstar, the Jason Warren-trained Benedetta will carry top weight of 57 kilograms in Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap (G1) at Flemington.
“She’s earned her way into that weight range, but I didn’t expect to see her with 57 kilos and nothing above her. Even when I saw the line-up on Monday, I wasn’t sure what weight we’d get but I didn’t expect it to be the top weight,” Warren told Racing.com. “There’s no doubt it’s going to make things harder carrying 57 kilos. It’s a ratings-based system and she’s the No.-1-rated horse in the race, so we’ve got to approach from that perspective.”
Last year, Benedetta finished fourth in the Newmarket behind Cylinder, Imperatriz, and The Astrologist after carrying 52 kilograms. Since then, Benedetta has won the Goodwood Stakes (G1) and the R.N. Irwin Stakes (G3) and finished third in the Sangster Stakes (G1), all in Adelaide, while she finished a first-up third in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1).
“I’d love that weight of 52 kilos again; with the weight of 57 kilos, it’s going to be a lot harder, but I wouldn’t swap her with any horse in the field,” he said.
All-Star Mile
Flying Trapeze may be the rank outsider for Saturday’s All-Star Mile (G1) at Flemington, but for connections of the colt, it may be their one and only shot at tackling the likes of Mr Brightside and company.
Trainer Gary Portelli said there were “40,000 reasons” to have a shot at Saturday’s group 1 race over 1,600 meters, while also giving the ownership group something to talk about in years to come. Just seven horses will contest the All-Star Mile, with Flying Trapeze assured of AU$40,000 even if he fails to beat a runner home.
“Who knows, there could be a ‘Steve Bradbury’ situation,” Portelli said. “I don’t want them to fall, but I want them all to not fire, and he might beat two or three home and if that happened, there’s some bigger prize money. We’re aiming for the AU$1 million with this horse. He’s won a fair bit already, so we’ll keep etching away at it.”
