Godolphin trainer James Cummings has Zardozi primed for historic Caulfield Cup tilt

Godolphin star stayer Zardozi will attempt a rare double on Saturday in the Caulfield Cup.

Godolphin star stayer Zardozi will attempt a rare double on Saturday in the Caulfield Cup.

In 145 years one mare, Jameka in 2016, has won the VRC Oaks and returned 12 months later to triumph in the Caulfield Cup.

The Caulfield Cup has been a tough race to win as a four-year-old generally, with Ethereal (2001) and Southern Speed (2011) the only others to do so since the turn of the century.

Zardozi is one of three four-year-old mares set to contest the spring major at Caulfield on Saturday along with Coco Sun and Positivity.

Zardozi, to be ridden by Hong Kong-based jockey Andrea Atzeni at 51kg, avoided any further weight penalty after being touched off in the Group 1 Metropolitan last start by Land Legend.

Trainer James Cummings has taken a positive approach to the narrow defeat, with the light weight a benefit for Zardozi on Saturday.

“Beaten on the day … she’s now between one and three kilos light in the Caulfield Cup and I think that will read pretty well in the form guide,” Cummings said.

Group 1 Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo is a $4.60 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Caulfield Cup from Eliyass ($6), Land Legend ($8) and Zardozi ($9).

Young Werther ($15) is next from Warmonger ($17) and Japanese raider Warp Speed ($17).

Zardozi winning last year’s VRC Oaks Picture: Michael Klein

Zardozi, the only horse Cummings nominated for the Cups, has improved with every run this campaign building up to her pet 2400m-plus distance range.

“We don’t have a stable full of middle distance and staying horses, but we had the emerging Zardozi at the beginning of this campaign,” Cummings said.

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“We’re very impressed with the way she’s elevated into racing in open class handicaps against the older horses.”

Cummings booked Sydney Cup-winner Atzeni after “a little birdie gave me the tip off he might be available” to ride in the Caulfield Cup.

Atzeni has 31 Group 1 wins including prestigious staying races – the Goodwood Cup twice on Stradivarius and a pair of English St Legers.

“I’m impressed with his record in staying races, he’s got some trophies there that would be the envy of many jockeys,” Cummings said.

“He just had the horse Circle Of Fire travel so beautifully for him in the Sydney Cup back in April, those types of rides, when jockeys get opportunities like that, those types of rides stick in your mind when you’re watching.

“I didn’t have a runner in the Sydney Cup but I paid attention to his performance.”

Cummings has saddled only two Caulfield Cup runners previously, Hartnell (7th in 2019) and Avilius (6th in 2020).

“(Hartnell) was looming up to do something and got shut-out of a run, I raced Avilius in the Caulfield Cup and he got shut-out of a run, we’re due for a change of luck,” Cummings said.

Cummings’s legendary grandfather Bart won the Caulfield Cup a record seven times.