Trainer James Cummings to unveil his latest 2yo stars at Royal Randwick on Saturday
Godolpin trainer James Cummings might be enjoying a winter wonderland in Canada but his two-year-old team are burning up the racetracks in the Sydney summer heat this month.
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Godolpin trainer James Cummings might be enjoying a winter wonderland in Canada but his two-year-old team are burning up the racetracks in the Sydney summer heat this month.
Cummings is overseas on holiday with his young family but is keeping a watchful eye on his stable results back home including his juvenile trifecta with Tempted, Daphnes and Lipstick at the Warwick Farm midweeks.
“Tempted’s a lovely filly, she picked up well and sprinted quickly to win,’’ said Cummings who spoke to Racenet from a cold and wet Vancouver.
“She’s got loads of improvement to come but it was a very good start for her and the other two fillies will also be better for that experience.’’
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Cummings is chasing more two-year-old success with superbly-bred colts Chergui and Cenotaph making their debuts in the Shinzo At Coolmore Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Chergui as the pick of the Godolphin pair with the colt on the top line of betting at $4.40 alongside Albany Road and Pallaton, while Cenotaph is at $19.
Cummings suggested his two colts should not be that afar apart in betting but he conceded Chergui had impeccable credentials.
By Group 1-winning American racehorse Frosted, Chergui is out of the celebrated broodmare Essaouira who has had nine foals to race for eight winners.
Her progeny include two Group 1 winners – Alizee who won the Flight Stakes, Queen of the Turf Stakes and Futurity Stakes, and Astern, the Golden Rose winner.
“Chergui is a lovely, solid colt, he looks a fast colt,’’ Cummings said.
“Our bloodstock team frequently remark the best of our Frosteds are beautifully-bodied, good-looking horses like this colt. They are the type of Frosted that do well for us.
“He’s out of a terrific mare, Essaouira who keeps throwing winners and good horses.’’
Cummings sent Chergui to Ballarat for a trial win earlier this month and believes the interstate trip had been a good learning experience for the colt.
“The boys were a little disappointed to see him draw 10,’’ the Godolphin maestro said.
“But I feel like it might actually work out alright for the horse as he can pop away nicely early and then give himself a bit of room.
“I wouldn’t put it past him to be up on the speed. Zac (Lloyd, jockey) has options on a horse that has a bit of toe about him.’’
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Cenotaph is by legendary racehorse and sire Lonhro out of Memorial, the dam of Commemorative and Contemporary, and his granddam is Mnemosyne, a dual Group 1-winner herself and dam of former top racehorse Impending, winner of two Group 1 races including the Stradbroke Handicap.
“There aren’t too many Lonhro two-year-old colts up and about before Christmas these days but Cenotaph has that look about him of a horse that could run well,’’ Cummings said.
“Just knowing the horse, there was hidden merit in his second trial and he has gone through his paces beautifully both times.
“He’s had a good grounding and is a real ‘closing’ chance in the race. I can picture him finding his feet early then finishing off strongly.
“I have a feeling the jockey (Kerrin McEvoy) shares my enthusiastic opinion of the horse.’’
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MOST of the racehorse names used by the Godolphin Australia racing and breeding operation are made by the venerable Suzanne Philcox.
She has held the role for more than 35 years and is said to have named around 10,000 racehorses.
Among Philcox’s personal favourites is the John Hawkes-trained champion Octagonal. The 10-time Group 1 winner was by Zabeel out of the phenomenal producer Eight Carat, hence the name.
Another of the famous racehorse names inspired by Philcox is the champion racehorse and sire, Lonhro, a son of Octagonal.
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When Lonhro was born in 2018, he was described as “tiny but perfect” on the foaling sheet.
Philcox was reading a magazine called “Private Eye” at that time which had a feature story about English businessman, Roland “Tiny” Rowland who died the year Lonhro was born.
Rowland was often described as “tiny but perfect”, not because of his short stature but for his impeccable grooming. He was also the chief executive of the London Rhodesia Mining Company.
Philcox used the company’s stock exchange code of “Lonrho” and slightly changed the spelling to “Lonhro” for the future champion racehorse and stallion.
So, what was the inspiration behind the names of Chergui and Cenotaph?
Philicox provided this writer with explanations of the names for all of Godolphin’s 2022 foals that are two-year-olds this season.
The naming of the Lonhro-Memorial colt, Cenotaph, is self-explanatory. A “cenotaph” is a monument to commemorate those who died in war.
But Chergui (Frosted-Essaouria) is an example of Philcox’s widespread knowledge and understanding of many and varied subjects.
The two-year-old colt shares his name with the “Chergui”, the hot, dry winds that come out of the Sahara Desert and into the Essaouria regain near Morocco.
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5 YEARS AGO
Promising colt King’s Legacy, trained by Peter Snowden for owner James Harron, broke through at just his second start to win the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes, defeating Every Rose by a half length at Eagle Farm. Later that season, King’s Legacy showed his class with successive Group 1 wins in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes. Etah James led for home and defied her chasing rivals to win the Pakenham Cup comfortably. The following autumn, Etah James produced a career best effort to win the Group 1 Sydney Cup.
10 YEARS AGO
Mishani Honcho, trained by Les Ross, finished strongly to win the McLachlan Stakes by a widening two lengths. Later that season, Mishani Honcho ran third in the Silver Slipper Stakes behind Headwater than ran fourth to eventual Golden Slipper winner Vancouver in the Todman Stakes. Cadillac Mountain, trained by Peter Moody, won the Pakenham Cup (then Werribee Classic).
20 YEARS AGO
Brilliant colt Snitzel, trained by Gerald Ryan, sped away with the Tommy Smith (now McLachlan Stakes) Slipper by six lengths. Snitzel then started favourite in the Magic Millions when third to Bradbury’s Luck and later that season was a beaten favourite in the Golden Slipper, finishing 12th to Stratum. Snitzel won his Group 1 in the Oakleigh Plate the following year then retired to Arrowfield Stud where he has become one of the great stallions of the modern era. The Brian Mayfield-Smith trained Lightning Command won the Pakenham Cup.
Originally published as Trainer James Cummings to unveil his latest 2yo stars at Royal Randwick on Saturday
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