Trainer James Cummings produces star colt Broadsiding first-up to beat stablemate Traffic Warden in an epic Group 1 Golden Rose

A sublime training performance from James Cummings creates history as boom colt Broadsiding becomes the first horse to win the Group 1 Golden Rose first-up at Rosehill.

Broadsiding (right) and James McDonald charge home to win the Group 1 Golden Rose from stablemate Traffic Warden at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Godolphin trainer James Cummings masterminded a historic Golden Rose stable quinella as his star colt Broadsiding scored a famous win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Broadsiding, ridden by James McDonald, becomes the only horse to win the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) first-up from a spell when he wore down stablemate Traffic Warden in a thrilling finish.

Both Cummings and McDonald lauded the effort of Broadsiding to defeat an outstanding field in the three-year-old classic that is renowned as a “stallion-making race”.

“Broadsiding was the champion from last season, he steps right onto the turf as a three-year-old and claims a Group 1,” Cummings said.

“It’s a pretty impressive achievement for a colt to do. I can’t remember too many colts, champion two-year-old colts, doing that in the past.”

McDonald, Sydney’s superstar jockey, also lauded Broadsiding’s achievement.

“He’s got way more (ability) than we can ever imagine. Mate, he’s just a cool dude,” McDonald said.

Broadsiding! The @godolphin colt becomes the first horse to win the G1 Golden Rose first-up and he is now a three-time G1 winner. That's a third Golden Rose for @mcacajamez 🔵🔵🔵 pic.twitter.com/lOM6NAi36Z

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

“He’s just a star, the horse. He’s a proper horse. Anamoe goes, this one comes in.”

Anamoe failed to win the Golden Rose finishing second in the 2021 renewal but he is the only bona fide champion of Cummings’ and retired as a nine-time Group 1 winner of more than $12 million.

But Broadsiding is well on his way to earning racing’s ultimate accolade of “champion” by securing his third Group 1 win in the Golden Rose, complementing his success in the Champagne Stakes and JJ Atkins last season. In race of many highlights:

■ Broadsiding gave Cummings his 50th Group 1 winner – a decade after his first in the same race with Hallowed Crown.

■ Champion jockey James McDonald goes to Epsom Day at Royal Randwick next Saturday on 99 career Group 1 wins.

■ The Godolphin colts will go on separate paths with Broadsiding likely to be aimed at the $3 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12 while Traffic Warden is in the mix for the stable’s slot in the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.

■ Storm Boy ran fourth after leading for most of the race and Coolmore is also contemplating an Everest start for the colt.

Broadsiding ($2.15 favourite) made it five wins in succession when he stormed down the centre of the track to edge out Traffic Warden ($6.50) and win by a head with Mayfair ($21) a long head away third, just in front of Storm Boy.

Cummings, who also trained a Golden Slipper quinella with Kiamichi and Microphone in 2019, described his Golden Rose 1-2 as a “proud moment” and wasn’t concerned that Broadsiding needed to create racing history to win the race first-up.

A special moment for James Cummings as he brings up his 5️⃣0️⃣th Group 1 victory in the Golden Rose 🏆 @godolphinpic.twitter.com/hHaWCT6wep

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

“I think that was so overblown, this race has been around five minutes. It hasn’t been done before, well it’s been done now,” he said.

“I had no trouble getting Anamoe ready for a Winx Stakes over seven furlongs (1400m) first-up. Plenty of good horses can do that.

“I’d say we know what we’re doing and when you’ve got confidence in what you’re doing, the rest of it looks after itself.

“We had great belief in the two horses and the preparation we had given both of them, which was tailor-made to suit them both.

“The thing is, Broadsiding’s by Too Darn Hot, he’s a European-bred horse with a European style, and chasing over six furlongs would not have been his go. He was in the right race fresh up and that’s just our stable having the confidence to know our horses.”

Broadsiding gave Cummings his third Golden Rose after Bivouac (2019) and Hallowed Crown, and also McDonald’s third win in the race after Astern (2016) and Exosphere (2015).

McDonald produced a gem of a ride on Broadsiding from barrier one, getting the colt way from the rail and into clear galloping room from the top of the straight.

“I was very happy with the spot we had and then he showed his great turn of foot,” McDonald said.

“He was feeling the pinch 100 (metres) from home and just the fighting qualities in this horse, the will to win, he’s just a marvellous horse.

“But I don’t think you can give enough credit to James’ training performance. He’s had so much belief in this colt.”

"The ultimate goal is the Cox Plate" - @mcacajamez

James McDonald joined Emma and Lizzie after the win of Broadsiding in the Group 1 Golden Rose. James now sits on 99 Group 1 wins. pic.twitter.com/nQXlKXkl6K

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 28, 2024

Traffic Warden’s effort to beat all but Broadsiding could convince Godolphin to select the young sprinter for The Everest.

“No doubt Traffic Warden is our premier elect for The Everest,” Cummings said.

“Now it’s a matter of getting the plan right because he is an important horse for the operation.

“He’s going to have his opportunity eventually. The Everest is not a Group One yet – it might be in three weeks – but the Coolmore is five weeks away.

“The transparent statement is, we’ve got to be sure that if we go to The Everest, we’ve got a horse ready to go to the Coolmore still and that is going to be the plan.”

Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott fell within a half-length of Golden Rose glory with Mayfair and Storm Boy finishing third and fourth respectively.

“I thought Mayfair was very brave,” Bott said. “This is a colt who is in his first preparation and he’s improving all the time.

“He’s very tough and was coming again on the line. All being well, we will look at going to the Caulfield Guineas.”

Bott and Coolmore supremo Tom Magnier were in deep discussion after Storm Boy’s brave front-running effort and both men now have The Everest in their sights.

“Storm Boy ran well and it seems 1200m just might be his sweet spot,” Bott said. “We will have a good think about where we go next but The Everest is certainly an option.”

Magnier is also of the belief that Storm Boy can run very competitive at weight-for-age against the older horses in The Everest.

“On that run, maybe 1200m is more his distance. I want to let the dust settle on today, see how he pulls up, but I’m not ruling out going to The Everest,” Magnier said.

Originally published as Trainer James Cummings produces star colt Broadsiding first-up to beat stablemate Traffic Warden in an epic Group 1 Golden Rose