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Randwick Inside Mail: ‘We mean business’, Godolphin trainer James Cummings warns rivals; Ray Thomas’ tips and quaddie picks

Trainer James Cummings has chances in three Randwick features on Saturday and he’s issued a stern message to any doubters of Zardozi, Tom Kitten and Aft Cabin. Plus, get Ray Thomas’s best bets and quaddie picks.

Ray Thomas
4 min read
September 20, 2024 - 3:00PM
Trainer James Cummings saddles up Zardozi (top right) and Tom Kitten at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer James Cummings saddles up Zardozi (top right) and Tom Kitten at Randwick on Saturday.

Godolphin maestro James Cummings has made the call to run classy mare Zardozi in the Group 3 $250,000 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Cummings also entered Zardozi for the 7 Stakes (1600m) with the mare made second emergency for the Kingston Town but after two scratchings from the latter race, the trainer confirmed a start in the 2000m race.

Zardozi, winner of the Victoria Oaks and runner-up in the ATC Australian Oaks, has been unplaced in two starts this spring including her sixth placing behind Buckaroo in the Chelmsford Stakes as the $2.25 favourite.

But Cummings had excuses for Zardozi’s Chelmsford loss and said the mare had continued to thrive since that run.

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday

“I’m delighted with the mare and although she was beaten out of a placing, she wasn’t beaten far in the Chelmsford,’’ Cummings said.

“The rail was out a long way on the day and the track was dry. The horses that were up and in on the day continued to come to the fore.

“It was a little difficult for her to get into the race sooner and keep finishing off as a young mare against those tougher, older weight-for-age horses.

“She may have taken a bit of benefit from that and I’ve certainly seen that in her trackwork.”

Cummings also has Tom Kitten lining up in the Group 3 $250,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) while Aft Cabin contests the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m).

Tom Kitten is coming off a barnstorming first-up win at Rosehill while Aft Cabin didn’t have a lot of galloping room when unplaced behind I Am Me in the Concorde Stakes.

• $6 BEST BET: Ray & Duff’s tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday

“We mean business with Tom Kitten as a four-year-old, there’s big races ahead for him and we have been super patient to wait for the Bill Ritchie second-up,’’ Cummings said.

“Bill Ritchie winners are weight-for-age winners in waiting, so it’s going to be no mean feat from barrier 15 to be flooding home up the middle over the top of these horses.’’

Cummings said Tom Kitten was set to race his way into the Group 1 Epsom Handicap in two weeks while he hoped Aft Cabin might make a late bid for a start in The Everest on October 19.

“Aft Cabin had a ‘barrier trial’ in the Concorde because following Bella Nipotina he went into the rough behind Giga Kick and at no stage did the horse get a chance,’’ Cummings said.

“He finds himself here with a wide draw to give himself plenty of room. With all the stored energy from the Concorde this prep, he’s going to charge into The Shorts here.

“He’s demonstrated that in his training, but he’s just got to get out there and do it.

“There’s the cauldron of an Everest build-up, so we are wheeling in Aft Cabin. There’s nowhere to hide, so we’ll be keen to see what bombs he can let off.”

• Why history is against Bella Nipotina in The Everest

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RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: El Castello $4.60-$3.50, Flying Bandit $6-$5, Rush Attack $15-$8.50, Kervette $15-$10
Race 2: Kreon $3.60-$2.70, She’s Exotic $3.60-$2.80, Perennial $8-$5
Race 3: Galeron $8-$7, St Lawrence $15-$8.50, Cliff House $26-$10
Race 4: Well Timed $6-$3.90 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $3.90/$1.80
Race 5: Ceolwulf $3.60-$3.30
Race 6: Tom Kitten $3.90-$3.70 with a bet of $2000 at $3.90, Amenable $8-$6
Race 7: Autumn Glow $2.30-$2 after bets of $2250 at $2.30, $2000 at $2.30, $2000 at $1.95 multiple times
Race 8: Fangirl $2.50-$2.10 after bets of $6000 at $2.25, $5000 at $2.15, $5000 at $2.10, $2000 at $2.30
Race 9: I Am Me $4.60-$2.70 after bets of $2200 at $3.60, $2000 at $3.60, $1000 e/w at $4.40/$1.80, $1000 e/w at $4.20/$1.80, Mumbai Muse $15-$9
Race 10: Moravia $4.60-$3.70, Atmospheric Rock $11-$6.50

• Saturday Market Movers: Feature race runner $4.80 to $2.80

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EARLY QUADDIE SELECTIONS
Race 3: 2,5,6
Race 4: 5,6,10,14
Race 5: 6,11,18
Race 6: 4,7,8,14

QUADDIE SELECTIONS
Race 7: 1,2,6
Race 8: 3,6,7
Race 9: 1,3,6,7
Race 10: 2,3,6,8

• EXCLUSIVE: Golden Eagle, The Shorts to be elevated to Group 1 status

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PRICE CHECK
Fangirl (race 8) has firmed from $2.50 to $2.10 after bets of $6000 at $2.25, $5000 at $2.15 and $5000 at $2.10. I Am Me (race 9) has firmed from $4.60 to $2.70 after bets of $2200 at $3.60, $2000 at $3.60 and $1000 e/w at $4.40/$1.80.

• Don’t discount $19 chance, Lloyd warns punters

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TRIAL POINTERS
Stefi Magnetica (race 9) hasn’t raced since her outstanding win in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in June but she looked in magnificent order in a Randwick barrier trial hitout earlier this month. Stefi Magnetica settled back in the field but finished strongly wide out to just miss reeling in leader Mazu in a 1000m heat. Jockey Zac Lloyd kept the mare under a tight hold in the trial but she stretched out generously to the line.

• Baker’s $20m challenge: Win a big race with a horse that doesn’t like him

Amenable (race 6) has had two trials in preparation for his return in the Bill Ritchie Handicap, impressing in the most recent when he won over 1000m at Randwick, breaking 60s for the gallop. Talented sprinter who was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over the Randwick 1400m course in autumn.

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SECTIONAL STARS
Fangirl (race 8) was forced wide from the home turn but she closed strongly for a half length third when resuming in the Winx Stakes. She ran home her final 600m in 32.99s including a stunning 200m split from the 400m of 10.53s.

I Am Me (race 9) sped around the Randwick 1000m in a brilliant 55.79s to win the Concorde Stakes when resuming earlier this month. The Ciaron Maher-trained I Am Me ran her final 600m in 32.01s including a 200m sectional between the 600m-400m of 10.44s.

• ‘As good as he’s ever gone’: Pride has Eye on history in The Shorts

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BEST BET
Fangirl(race 8) resumed in the Winx Stakes and was alongside eventual winner Via Sistina at the 600m before the former was forced to track wide around the turn. Via Sistina went inside and took the shorter route home as Fangirl finished powerfully late for third, beaten only a half-length. Fangirl has had a month between runs and a tick-over barrier trial going into the 7 Stakes. Outstanding mare with brilliant acceleration and she excels at Randwick.

• $51 into $26: Significant support for My Oberon in 7 Stakes

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VALUE BET
Floating (race 3) was going to charge into the race over the Randwick mile last start but was disadvantaged by the track bias before finishing fifth. Floating likes this track, he’s third up and should be at his peak now, and deserves another chance. He’s good value at double figure odds.

Originally published as Randwick Inside Mail: ‘We mean business’, Godolphin trainer James Cummings warns rivals; Ray Thomas’ tips and quaddie picks

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/randwick-inside-mail-we-mean-business-godolphin-trainer-james-cummings-warns-rivals-ray-thomas-tips-and-quaddie-picks/news-story/981aa8b87e7cd9f0abffe61ba6e011e8