Broadsiding bounces back in Rosehill Guineas to notch fourth win at G1 level

Broadsiding claimed his fourth G1 victory and regained a little lost sparkle when he narrowly won a thrilling Rosehill Guineas over 2,000m at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 22 March.

Last season’s champion two-year-old and the winner of the Champagne Stakes 1,600m, J.J. Atkins Stakes 1,600m and Golden Rose (,500m at the highest level in 2024, Broadsiding showed courage and toughness to just hold off the fast-finishing Aeliana in a photo-finish.

Runner-up in the G1 Randwick Guineas at his previous start, Broadsiding was trapped wide early and then taken around the field by champion jockey James McDonald to settle outside the lead on Saturday.

McDonald eased to fourth before the home turn and then switched three-wide at the top of the home straight.

Although a sitting shot in the final 100m, Broadsiding dug deep to improve his record to seven wins and four placings from 14 starts for prize-money earnings of $3,913,975 under Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings.

“He's a class colt and class carries a long way,” Cummings said after the race.

“I suppose from the draw, he's had to do a fair bit of work, and James just rode him with confidence and stuck to his plan – which was essentially to keep an open mind and not give away too much ground today on a track like this.

“But that filly, who's been so good, and James knows her well, Aeliana, has just laid away and done no work.
“They can launch at you and it takes a very good horse to hold them off.”

Although placed in last year’s G1 Cox Plate (2,040m) at The Valley as a three-year-old, Broadsiding was considered a query over the 2,000m but Cummings was always a believer in the colt’s class.

“You know, he's probably not a genuine 2,000m horse, but he's a brilliant horse,” the trainer said.
“He's got up and won the Rosehill Guineas, so fair play to him.

“He's probably done it the hard way and his performance is worth reflecting on.
“He's got another Group 1 on the board.

“It’s very difficult to do on a warm day and these conditions, but he's just a good horse, and it's just so pleasing to see him get up and deliver.”

McDonald said he decided to circle the field when caught wide, but was confident Broadsiding still had the ability to find another gear.

“It was one of those moments where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, so we rolled the dice, had a crack, paid off,” the jockey said.

“At the first bend, I thought, ‘oh no, then one worked out, I ended up with a one-one, and it was a good win, a really good win.”

Cummings is yet to decide the Too Darn Hot colt’s next assignment, but has all but ruled out a start in the G1 ATC Derby 2,400m at Randwick in April.

The G1 Doncaster Mile looks unsuitable at the weights and Via Sistina appears to have a mortgage on the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2,000m.

A trip to Royal Ascot for the G1 Queen Anne Stakes 1,609m in June is a possibility, although Cummings said unlikely.    

Godolphin’s racing and breeding manager Jason Walsh said Too Darn Hot continued to deliver and that eight of the 10 Godolphin mares sent to visit him in England this Northern Hemisphere season were in foal.

“He’s the most exciting stallion in the country, there’s no doubt about that,” Walsh said.

“He’s doing it weekend after weekend and it’s a great credit to all the people who have supported him along the journey and I’m sure there’s many more benefits to be reaped on the path ahead.

“He’s a hugely exciting prospect for our organisation.”

The day ended on another positive note for Godolphin when the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Austmarr proved too speedy in the G3 Birthday Card Stakes over 1,200m.

Taken straight to the front by Kerrin McEvoy, Austmarr led throughout to beat Shezanalister by 1.2 lengths, with Coco Jamboo a half-length away in third place.

A Stakes winner in Adelaide 12 months ago, Austmarr boosted her record to five wins and three placings from 12 starts for prize-money of $356,710.

Anthony Freedman wasn’t surprised by the result even though his four-year-old has been behind the placegetters in two runs back this preparation.
“She drew low at her past two, she’s better drawing wide and forcing the issue,” the co-trainer said.

“A big result, she’s a big mare with proper speed and a lovely broodmare going forward.”

Pressed about any future autumn assignments, Freedman quipped:  “I haven’t thought beyond today, but we’ll see.”