Pisces shines in Blue Sapphire before Kin completes Godolphin double in Village Stakes

Improving three-year-old Pisces graduated to Stakes winner in style on Saturday, 16 November when he scored an easy victory in the G3 Blue Sapphire over 1,400m at Caulfield.

One race later, stablemate Kin also stamped her pedigree page with Black Type by winning the Listed Village Stakes 1,100m to give Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings a welcome double.

Cummings had witnessed Pisces patiently ridden in sixth spot till the 500m pole before champion jockey James McDonald pulled him three-wide to challenge the leaders at the 300m mark.

The gelding quickly put 2.5 lengths on Rue De Royale, with Catoggio finishing another 1.25 lengths away in third place.

Pisces put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching first-up second over 1,200m at Moonee Valley on 26 October.

Cummings was delighted with the gelding’s progress and praised McDonald for allowing Pisces to find his feet early in the race.

“It’s an outstanding effort from the horse, he moved beautifully into that second-up run,” Cummings said.

“It’s a rich race and worth targeting with a horse like Pisces, aiming at the lower-hanging fruit.

“I liked that James was not sucked into the idea of having the horse too close.

“He rode the horse great at Moonee Valley, just didn’t get there.

“But today, with the quiet ride out of the breeze, he cruised up to them on the outside in stylish fashion.”

By former Darley shuttle stallion Frosted, Pisces took his record to three wins and five placings from 10 starts for prize-money of $571,125.

“It’s great for the Melbourne team at Carbine (Lodge), who have managed to bring the horse on from that excellent first-up run,” Cummings added.

“He’s definitely one to keep aiming at races like these in the autumn.

“He could be a significant improver as a young four-year-old.

“It would be nice to be back here next year as a four-year-old in a race like the (G1) Rupert Clarke, but there could be a few races before then that we might be able to pick off along the way.”

Cummings was straight back in the winner’s stall when Kin showed great determination to win the Village Stakes.

Jockey Jamie Kah was trapped wide on the Impending four-year-old till the home turn, but Kin was still able to beat Pharari by a long neck with Miraval Rose three-quarters of a length away in third.

“The one instruction and plan was to get cover and that didn’t happen, so well done to the horse,” Kah said.

“She was very tough, she’s so competitive and consistent lately.

“We just needed everything to go right; nothing went right for her but she still won anyway.

“She is very genuine and very tough so full credit to the team.”

Kin has now won four races and been placed nine times from 23 starts for prize-money totalling $544,950.

“It’s a huge result and very satisfying,” Cummings said.

“That sets her up as a broodmare for years to come and great for the team to have had another winner here this afternoon.

“Jamie rode her the right way, coming from off the pace.

“She had her within striking distance and Jamie got it spot on.”

The victory vindicated the Cummings team’s decision to return Kin for another spring preparation.

“To have been kept in training with a bit of faith, to get that Stakes win was very, very valuable for her future,” the trainer said.

“We’ll take what we can get and I’ll keep my feet on the ground.

“It was a huge effort to get that win today.”