Broadsiding makes Champagne Stakes bid with commanding Fernhill Mile victory

Impressive colt Broadsiding could back up in the G1 Champagne Stakes (1,600m) at Royal Randwick next weekend after the handsome son of Too Darn Hot scored an easy win in the Listed Fernhill Mile at the same track on Saturday, 13 April.

Having his fourth start for Godolphin head trainer James Cummings, Broadsiding raced in the second half of the field before premier jockey James McDonald angled to the centre of the track in the home straight.

Broadsiding charged to the lead at the 100m pole and raced clear to beat El Castello by 2.2 lengths, with Just Party a half-length away in third place.

The colt, out of the deceased Australian mare Speedway, gave former European champion juvenile Too Darn Hot his first Stakes winner in the Southern Hemisphere.

He also gave Cummings plenty to think about before acceptances for the G1 Champagne Stakes are taken on Tuesday.

“He’s a very interesting colt, that’s Too Darn Hot’s first Stakes winner in Australia, and he did it with conviction today – which was good to see,” Cummings said.

“It’s great to have that horse on the roster with Darley in Australia, it’s a pretty promising start he’s made with his first crop.

“Broadsiding had absolutely no trouble eating up the mile, which was no surprise to us.

“He’s nicely bred, and Too Darn Hot was a Sussex Stakes (Goodwood 1,600m) winner, so I think this horse has everything needed to back up in the Champagne Stakes next week.”

Placed in the G3 Baillieu Stakes (1,400m) at Rosehill Gardens on 30 March, Broadsiding appreciated the rise in distance and followed in the hoof prints of his stablemate Tom Kitten – who won the Fernhill last year en route to victory in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m) at Randwick six months later .

“I’m sure he (Broadsiding) gave James McDonald a pretty good feel this morning,” Cummings said.

“It’s a good race, the Fernhill, look through the honour roll of winners.

“It’s a good horse’s race and he emulated those horses.

“He was so strong, won with conviction, he ate up the mile and he’s going to relish it if we decide to back him up next week.

“But that will depend on how well his health is and if we decide to put him under that pressure.”

Broadsiding will return to Randwick for the Champagne Stakes, if McDonald has any say.

“He’s an improving horse and I reckon he’ll appreciate the back-up really, really well,” the champion rider said.

“He’s tough and that’s nowhere near the bottom of him.”

Broadsiding provided the highlight of the day for Godolphin, although three-year-old filly Zardozi finished a fine second to Autumn Angel in the G1 Australian Oaks (2,400m) and Cascadian was a gallant fourth to the tearaway Pride Of Jenni in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2,000m.