Australian Cup (Group 1)

REMAINING third last on the turn, Ben Melham’s patience was his strength aboard Cascadian, the A$4 favourite for the Group 1 Australian Cup over Flemington’s 2,000 metres last Saturday.

Endeavouring to save ground and angle inside horses, it wasn’t until the final 200 metres that Cascadian got to see daylight.

Darting between runners, the evergreen New Approach eight-year-old was simply too strong when it mattered, sweeping past five others to win by a length consigning the Irish-bred Holy Roman Emperor gelding Numerian to second ahead of the Exceed And Excel gelding Pounding.

The win etched another Cummings name into the race’s honour roll. The win was a first for James, joining his brother Ed who won the race last year with Duais, with their grandfather Bart a winner of the race a record 13 times.

“I’m privileged as a young Cummings to be here on the big stage and have competitors in races like these,” said James Cummings.

Stern meeting

“I had a very stern meeting with my brother Edward yesterday and talked to him about how I might be able to go about winning this and at the conclusion of it he said, ‘you go and win it this year and I’ll be back to win it next year’.

“That’s the beauty of having the confidence that we are in these races and we’ve got the teams behind us to be competitive.”

The win was also a welcome reward for Melham who has been occupied by the recovery of his partner Jamie Kah who had a heavy fall on March 11th.

“The last couple of days have been really good,” said Melham. “She’s just taking the necessary steps on the doctors’ advice. I can tell you she is certainly looking forward to getting home and that is hopefully shortly, hopefully.

“There are no time limits on it. With brain injuries they are all different the way people recover at different times.”

Vinery Stud Stakes (Group 1)

THE New Zealand filly Prowess, trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, has proved she’s a class above, winning the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2,000 metres by over three-lengths against her own age and sex.

The Proisir filly is now seven wins from nine starts, with Mark Zahra securing Saturday’s ride. “She gave me a good feel cantering around. I felt power under there,” said Zahra. “The spot I was in, I had to let them kick to get room.

“She did idle a bit when I got out, had a bit of a look. But when I gave her one and pressed the button, I had them covered in 200 metres. The last 200 metres was ‘sit back and enjoy the show.”

Left trailing in Prowess’ wake was the American Pharoah filly Patriva in second ahead of the 2022 Golden Slipper winner, the Rebel Dane filly Fireburn.

Best I’ve trained

“I’ve thought for a long time that she could be the best I’ve trained,” said Roger James of the NZ$230,000 Karaka 2021 yearling.

“She does things that I haven’t had another horse be able to do. I’ve had Zonda (by Zabeel), who was always the benchmark, and Silent Achiever (O’Reilly), and I’ve won this race before with Sixty Seconds (Centaine).

“I’ve had some lovely horses over the years, but this filly does special things. I have travelled a lot of horses to Australia, and not many settle in like she did. And this is her first trip away, so she’s only going to get better. She is a star in the making.”

Roger James and Robert Wellwood will not press on towards the Australian Oaks with Prowess. “The world is her oyster,” added James.

“Without being silly, there is a lot of money to be had as an older horse in Australia, and she’s had quite a big season.

“She’s pretty versatile, she’s capable anywhere from 1,400 to 2,000 metres.”

Imperatriz dazzles in Group 1 at the Valley

William Reid Stakes (Group 1)

LAST Friday night’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley saw the four-time Group 1 winner from New Zealand, Imperatriz, sent out favourite having run a half-head second three weeks earlier in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, her Australian debut.

Trained by Mark Walker, the I Am Invincible filly with her regular rider Opie Bossun in the saddle, was settled well off the pace in the 1,200m sprint.

Asked to improve three-wide from the halfway point, the Imperatriz had little trouble rounding up the leaders on straightening as from behind her the Pride Of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina, herself a Moonee Valley Group 1 winner, could not get on terms, settling for second, a length in arrears.

Third went to the dual Flemington straight-six Group 1 winner, the Per Incanto mare Roch ‘n’ Horse.

Unlucky

“We’ve been a bit unlucky in Group 1s, especially in Melbourne over the years, so it was great to get that win tonight,” said Walker.

“She’s just been trouble-free this preparation and it was a fantastic ride of Opie’s as well and he just timed it perfectly. We had to make quite a long, sustained run, so full credit to the mare, she’s a beauty.” Imperatriz has now won 13 from 19 starts having been bought by Te Akau Racing for A$360,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Walker indicating the filly would likely head back to New Zealand for a break.

It’s all go for Arapaho in Tancred

Tancred Stakes (Group 1)

THE Bjorn Baker-trained Arapaho, a French-bred Lope De Vega gelding who was 11th in last year’s Melbourne Cup, has taken a smart win in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Ridden by Rachel King, Arapaho was three pairs back from the lead over the 2,400 metre journey, angling to the outside on the final bend to stake his claim.

In a tough run to the line, the six-year-old got the better of the Irish-bred King Frankel who was displaced to third by the fast-finishing Kermadec mare Montefilia, herself a four-time Group 1 winner.

“I’m absolutely thrilled, he’s been a great horse,” said Baker. “This time last year, we were hoping to win about a benchmark 70 race, so it’s worked out well.

“He travelled beautifully and Rachel (King) got it right. She just puts him in the zone, she really suits him.”

Cleveland fifth

Weighted at 53kgs for the Sydney Cup, Arapaho is on the third line of betting for the A$2 million 3,200 metre handicap, the current top choice being the Joseph O’Brien-trained Cleveland who ran home from midfield on the bend to run fifth in the Tancred, two lengths from the winner.

Arapaho has now won five races from 24 starts with King to retain the ride.

“This horse has improved no end this preparation. He’s the prime example of a happy horse who’ll run his heart out every time,” added King.

“No matter what, he gives you 110 percent every start. He’s never run a bad race for me. He took me around in a Melbourne Cup last year (11th), and he’ll be back there a bit more competitive this year.”

JOSEPH O’Brien’s 2021 Cox Plate winner State Of Rest will shuttle from Rathbarry Stud to stand his first season at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley for a service fee of A$44,000.

“In the last 20 years, Cox Plate winning three-year-olds have had an extraordinary record at stud with the likes of Savabeel, Shamus Award, and So You Think all developing into very important sires in the Australian breeding landscape,” said Newgate’s Henry Field.