Cascadian shines in the G1 All Age Stakes at Royal Randwick

Godolphin warhorse Cascadian did what head trainer James Cummings expected when he zoomed home in the straight to win the G1 All Aged Stakes over 1,400m to cap a terrific day for Godolphin at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 16 April.

In giving champion jockey James McDonald his 10th G1 victory of the season, Cascadian overpowered last year’s All Aged winner Tofane and the talented Ellsberg.

Cascadian went into the final G1 of the autumn carnival off a brilliant finish from 19th on the home turn in the Doncaster Mile behind Mr Brightside.

Although dropping back to 1,400m on the Heavy 9 surface, Cummings knew his flashy chestnut “had a big seven-furlongs run in him”.

The former English import won his fourth Stakes race and his second at the highest level after capturing the G1 Doncaster Mile 12 months ago.

“We knew he was up against it (2022 G1 Doncaster Handicap) with the big weight from the wide gate, but it probably toughened him up again for today,” Cummings said.

“We’re immensely proud of him; what a star he’s been since arriving in Australia.

“It’s not easy to win a Doncaster down in the weights and to our eyes, he was a very unlucky loser in this race (All Aged) last year.

“There looked like pressure in this race so it looked tailor-made for him over seven furlongs.”

Cascadian has now won eight races and been placed 11 times from 38 starts for prize money of a staggering $4,437,575.

Cummings said the seven-year-old would probably spell before the stable started “cherry-picking some nice suitable targets for him” in the spring.

Comeback galloper Kementari, who was gelded after proving infertile at stud, also did Godolphin proud at Randwick when he returned from a spell to win the G3 Hall Mark Stakes over 1,200m.

Jockey Nash Rawiller pushed him through a narrow gap on the rails and Kementari responded to edge out Count De Rupee and Big Parade to notch the eighth win (with 12 placings) of his 40-start career.

“He is a wonderful horse, he’s touched us all at Godolphin,” Cummings said.

“We have a common bond with Kementari, he’s been through all our farms and racing stables.

“The horse is just flying and hasn’t disappointed us.”

And rising three-year-old filly Mamounia didn’t disappoint Cummings when a gutsy winner of the Listed Galilee Series Final over 2,400m at Caulfield in Melbourne.

Third in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick two weeks ago, Mamounia was sent south in search of drier tracks and in readiness for the G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville in Adelaide on 30 April.

With Jamie Kah in the saddle, Mamounia proved too good for The Cunning Fox and Fearentless.

“We backed her to be fit enough, tough enough to travel down to Melbourne and handle the step up to a mile and a half,” Cummings said.

“We bypassed the (Australian) Oaks last week and I’m glad we did. She was in her right race today and this was the perfect bridging run to have her ready for the Australasian Oaks in a fortnight.

“She doesn’t have to do much more, I think she’s right where I need her to be.

“She’s a sweet filly with an excellent aerobic capacity and she’ll be running well in the Oaks in Adelaide.”