Inside James Cummings’ ‘outside the box’ 2025 Sydney Cup tilt with Zardozi

Zardozi’s preparation for a tough two-mile test like the Sydney Cup is by no means conventional … but then again, James Cummings has always been a trainer who does things his way.

Trainer James Cummings (right) will saddle up Zardozi in Saturday's Sydney Cup. Pictures: File

Zardozi goes into the gruelling 3200m of the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick on Saturday off just four lead-up runs over no further than 2000m.

This is hardly the textbook preparation for a stayer but Godolphin maestro James Cummings is another trainer who thinks “outside the box” with his horses.

Cummings sends Zardozi into the Sydney Cup after an unplaced run in the Apollo Stakes over 1400m then minor placings at 1600m and 1800m before her last start third in the Australian Cup at 2000m.

It is an unusual preparation for an exacting “two mile” test like a Sydney Cup but Cummings doesn’t confine himself to convention.

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Zardozi is coming off a very good spring campaign where although the mare was winless in seven starts, she ran consistently well in all the major staying races.

The Godolphin mare ran the closest of seconds to Land Legend in The Metropolitan over 2600m, then ran fourth behind Duke De Sessa in the Caulfield Cup at 2400m before Cummings finetuned her preparation for the Melbourne Cup over 3200m with a lead-up run on Derby Day at Flemington – over 1600m!

Zardozi rocketed home to finish fifth in the Empire Rose Stakes behind Atishu then three days later was an outstanding fourth in the Melbourne Cup behind Knight’s Choice.

With the quick turnaround from spring to autumn, Zardozi has retained some residual fitness from her Melbourne Cup campaign and which has enabled Cummings to tailor her training program for the Sydney Cup.

Zardozi gives @JamesCummings88 a race-to-race double, winning the G2 Phar Lap Stakes with @TomMarquand in the saddle!@[e-mail]/vJX8EMFS3O

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 16, 2024

• Sydney Cup favourite ‘has the pedigree’ for two-mile test

Another example of Cummings doing the unexpected is with Godolphin’s gifted three-year-old colt, Broadsiding.

A brilliant winner of the Golden Rose and a third placegetter in the Cox Plate last spring, Broadsiding has been in top form this autumn.

He resumed with a commanding win in the Hobartville Stakes over 1400m then tried hard when a close second to Linebacker in the Randwick Guineas at 1600m.

He then stepped out of 2000m in the Rosehill Guineas and held off the late charge of Aeliana to win narrowly.

What a total thriller in the G1 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas! 🤩

Broadsiding hangs on from the fast-finishing Aeliana to give @mcacajamez a G1 double today!@JamesCummings88 | @godolphin | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/c9kvMmuoeM

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 22, 2025

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Aeliana has since franked the form by romping home with the ATC Australian Derby last week.

Most expected Broadsiding would go to either the Doncaster Mile (1600m) or the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during The Championships but Cummings had an even bolder plan.

Broadsiding wasn’t well-weighted in the Doncaster and with a suspicion 2000m tests his stamina reserves, Cummings has freshened his stable star and will bring him back in distance for the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes over 1400m at Royal Randwick on April 19.

Cummings gave Broadsiding an easy “tick-over” barrier trial under regular rider James McDonald at Warwick Farm last Monday morning and the colt finished a pleasing fourth without being pressured by his rider.

At Royal Randwick on Saturday, Cummings and McDonald combine with Tempted in the Group 2 $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) and Commemorative in the Group 2 $300,000 Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

Cummings also has Tom Kitten lining up in the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) while Pisces contests the Listed $200,000 South Pacific Classic (1400m).

Originally published as Inside James Cummings’ ‘outside the box’ 2025 Sydney Cup tilt with Zardozi