Godolphin trainer James Cummings says Doncaster Mile still serious option for star three-year-old Broadsiding

Trainer James Cummings will use Saturday’s Randwick Guineas result to help lock in the rest of boom colt Broadsiding’s autumn campaign.

A shot at the Doncaster Mile is still a possibility for star colt Broadsiding. Picture: Getty Images

Godolphin maestro James Cummings conceded stable star Broadsiding’s autumn campaign comes to a “fork in the road” after the Group 1 $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“The Randwick Guineas is his first major assignment along the way this autumn,” Cummings said.

“I don’t know if we are going to be any the wiser as a consequence of his run on Saturday.

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“But I certainly think we will find out more about the landscape of his opposition for the weeks ahead.”

Cummings revealed he hasn’t ruled out starting Broadsiding with 55kg against older horses in the Group 1 $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 5.

But if that is the target race, how Broadsiding gets there is still to be determined.

The likely options are at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day, March 22, in either the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) or the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

“The Doncaster is a viable option,” Cummings said.

“The weight (55kg) says it is going to be no mean feat but I think it is all relative. The beauty of the weights every year is that they are relative.

“If we go to the Doncaster, it is a serious question we will be asking of Broadsiding but perhaps no more serious than the questions we have already asked of him.

“He’s a three-time Group 1 winner and he has already stood up to be quite exceptional.”

Broadsiding returns with a bang! 💥 He's just too good for them in the G2 Hobartville Stakes - and that's a 4th Rosehill winner for @ZacLloydx 👏@JamesCummings88 | @godolphin | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/5brw4Y5sdV

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

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Broadsiding resumed with an outstanding win in the Hobartville Stakes two weeks ago where he demonstrated surprising early speed to settle on the pace before cruising clear to win easily from Swiftfalcon and Aeliana. The placegetters that day clash again in the Guineas.

Cummings said Broadsiding has continued to improve since that win and the trainer has no issues with his colt’s fitness levels for the testing Randwick mile on Saturday.

“We are comfortable with Broadsiding going into the Randwick Guineas second-up,” Cummings said.

“If we get some rain, it is no problem. It doesn’t matter to Broadsiding if it is dry or wet.”

Cummings also has Group 1 chances with Pericles in the $750,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at the Randwick meeting, and with Tom Kitten in the $2.5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington.

Perciles ran only eighth behind Mr Brightside and Tom Kitten when resuming in the Futurity Stakes but Cummings felt there were valid reasons for the horse’s failure.

“The Caulfield track was quite firm the other day and Pericles is looking for a track with more give in it,” Pride said.

MR BRIGHTSIDE DOES IT AGAIN! HE BECOMES A 9-TIME GROUP 1 WINNER! 👑

HOW ABOUT THE RUNS FROM I WISH I WIN AND TOM KITTEN!? @[e-mail]/VSBGAc4s30

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 22, 2025

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“The Canterbury Stakes is a hot race but he might relish the softer conditions at Randwick.”

Tom Kitten ran a blinder first-up in the Futurity when he ran a luckless second and gets his chance to exact revenge over Mr Brightside in the All-Star Mile.

“There is no hiding the run he put in the Futurity,” Cummings said.

“That has to be good form for Saturday’s race at Flemington.”

Cummings has a big team entered across Randwick and Flemington and is hoping to build on his success from two weeks ago when he claimed a Group 2 double at Rosehill with Broadsiding (Hobartville Stakes) and Beiwacht (Silver Slipper), and just missed a major with Tom Kitten (Futurity Stakes) at Caulfield.

“This is a really important weekend for our team,” Cummings said.

“It is coming off the back of a really good weekend at the end of February and we are trying to make the most of that momentum.

“We are well positioned but appreciate the contest and it is a privilege to have horses for this operation at their best for some critical targets.”

Broadsiding mirrors former Godolphin star Anamoe

Broadsiding, the gifted Godolphin three-year-old, is earning inevitable comparisons with his former stablemate, champion Anamoe.

In fact, Broadsiding’s racetrack career mirrors Anamoe in many ways at the same stage of their three-year-olds seasons.

On the eve of the Group 1 $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, a statistical comparison of the outstanding James Cummings-trained colts reveals the remarkable similarity of their race records.

Broadsiding goes into the Guineas as a last start winner of the Hobartville Stakes, his sixth win from 12 starts.

Anamoe had also won the Hobartville Stakes, his sixth win from 13 starts going into the Randwick Guineas.

ANAMOE comes out on top in a thrilling edition of the Hobartville! @JamesCummings88@TommyBerry21@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/HWIMMDcMAH

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 19, 2022

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Both Godolphin three-year-olds returned a Timeform rating of 117 winning the Hobartville and were odds-on favourites with TAB Fixed Odds for the Randwick Guineas – Broadsiding is at $1.60 for Saturday and Anamoe ran as the $1.90 favourite three years ago.

Anamoe was upset by Converge in the Randwick Guineas but at his next start, romped home by more than six lengths in the Rosehill Guineas, returning a 122 rating.

Broadsiding’s peak rating is 119 which he achieved winning the Golden Rose last spring, a race Anamoe finished second to In The Congo in 2021.

They both ran in the Caulfield Guineas with Broadsiding finishing fourth while Anamoe scored a tough win.

Cummings then tested each three-year-old in the Cox Plate – Broadsiding finished third to Via Sistina last spring while Anamoe was controversially beaten by State Of Rest four years ago.

Prior to the Randwick Guineas, Broadsiding had won more Group 1 races than Anamoe at this same stage of their three-year-old seasons.

Broadsiding scored twice at Group 1 level as a two-year-old in the Champagne Stakes and JJ Atkins before his Golden Rose win last spring.

Anamoe won the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes as a two-year-old before claiming the Caulfield Guineas as a spring three-year-old.

It is expected Broadsiding will remain in training as a four-year-old but he will have to go to a new level to match Anamoe who won six Group 1 races including the 2022 Cox Plate to claim Horse of the Year honours before being retired to stud.

Originally published as Godolphin trainer James Cummings says Doncaster Mile still serious option for star three-year-old Broadsiding