Distance a slight query but class drop suits Zardozi in Sydney Cup

Melbourne Cups are harder to win than Sydney Cups and that’s why Zardozi must have a good winning chance in Saturday’s G1 staying feature over 3,200m at Royal Randwick.

Beaten just over a length in last spring’s G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Zardozi lines up this weekend a stronger and more seasoned mare carrying the confidence of her Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings.

With four runs under her girth this preparation against the best weight-for-age gallopers in the land, Zardozi reverts to 53kg under the handicap conditions and only has to run out a strong  “two miles” to prove hard to beat.

“The circumstances here are a bit different to the Melbourne Cup,” Cummings explained.
“The Sydney Cup regularly does not rate in the same ballpark as the Melbourne Cup.

“It would be a great honour to win the Sydney Cup and it will take a big performance from her, nonetheless.

“She was beaten only 1.3 lengths in the Melbourne Cup and Andrea Atzeni (jockey) concurred that she didn’t quite see out the 3,200m.

“It’s not all about the distance on paper, it’s about the strength of the form and Zardozi’s form in staying races is outstanding.”

Placed in the G2 Blamey Stakes 1,600m, G2 Peter Young Stakes 1,800m and the G1 Australian Cup 2,000m, Zardozi will carry Kerrin McEvoy and jump from an ideal gate three – the same barrier she had when enjoying a perfect run in the Melbourne Cup.

Cummings pointed out that even the great Verry Elleegant was unplaced at her first attempt at 3,200m before winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup in a canter.

“History shows that horses can improve with the experience of running over two miles,” he said.

“Zardozi rose in distance to win a VRC Oaks 2,500m, just went down in an ATC Oaks 2,400m, was narrowly defeated in a Metropolitan 2,400m, ran fourth in a Caulfield Cup 2,400m and fourth in a Melbourne Cup.
“So there’s a lot to be said for that form.

“With two searching gallops behind the pace set by Pride Of Jenni in the Peter Young (Stakes) and the Australian Cup, we’ve got a mare who is well conditioned and as fit as she can possibly be at this stage of her preparation.

“The reality is, from the good draw Kerrin will be reminded that there are not enough O’s in smooth. 

“He just needs to keep a good flowing gallop on the mare, hold her together when the pressure is on and she will be one of the threats capable of upsetting (short-priced favourite) Alalcance.”

Stablemate Tom Kitten officially finished unplaced in the G1 Doncaster Mile last Saturday, but the run was better than it looked and Cummings has given the giant four-year-old a chance to atone in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2,000m.

“He hit the line well in the Doncaster, his form is going to read he finished seventh, but he was only beaten a length,” the trainer said.

“He was in the slow ground on the day from barrier one and (jockey) Ben Melham, unfortunately, never quite got his opportunity to go left when he wanted.

“The pace on paper in the Doncaster was expected to be fast, but it didn’t eventuate.

“I think on the backup, with a good pace expected in this Queen Elizabeth with so many good horses involved, this will be an interesting test on the seven-day backup before Tom Kitten finishes his campaign.”

Melham retains the ride in Tom Kitten’s first return to the Randwick 2,000m start since his stunning G1 Spring Champion Stakes victory of 2023.
Golden Slipper placegetter Tempted appeared unlucky not to have finished closer or even won the big G1 for two-year-olds last month.

The filly also gets a chance for redemption when she lines up in the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes over 1,200m with James McDonald to ride.

“After having come through the Golden Slipper, with her momentum impeded at a critical time in the words of Blake Shinn, she pulled up with all that stored energy,” Cummings said.

“This race was too difficult to resist and she’s since been bright within herself and has trained on like she was unfazed by the occasion.
“The barrier (12) is a challenge and so is the campaign, there is no shirking that fact.

“If she can bring her best, we’ve trained her up to where he’s the best filly in this race.”
Cummings hinted that Tempted could be allowed to stride early in the race and find a position near the lead.

That won’t be the case with another Godolphin giant, Commemorative, in the G2 Sapphire Stakes over 1,200m.
Like Tempted, Commemorative has drawn the outside barrier.

But that could be a positive for a long-striding mare who had no luck when bottled up back on the fence in the G1 Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens on 22 March.
“Running her in a G1 handicap with a very light weight was a chance last time, but it didn’t quite work out from the inner draw,” Cummings said.

“All the gates closed on her whenever she wanted to burst through one, but here we are in the Sapphire at set weights and penalties where she is well suited.
“She’s drawn to get plenty of room, although with not a lot of tempo on paper.

“She’s been building towards something and we’ve been patient so far, ever since she hit the ground running with a nearly five-length victory on debut as a two-year-old.
“But if she can get on the back of the right horse going forward, and things go evenly for James (McDonald) from the gate, Commemorative can nonetheless be a chance of getting a perfect run.”

Pisces was also an acceptor for the Listed Bendigo Guineas 1,400m but has remained in NSW and could run in the Listed South Pacific Classic over the same distance with Damian Lane in the irons.
“He was in need of the run first-up (ninth) behind the very good filly Autumn Glow in the Darby Munro,” Cummings said.

“He was beaten many lengths, but he’s no doubt going to be better for it and he’s building towards something.
“This is a difficult race at the weights scale and with a difficult map. 

“We’ve noticed improvement in him, but there is still more to come. 
“We are considering waiting a week for that horse, but he has stayed in Sydney for now.”