Tireless Kiamichi set to finish her two-year-old preparation with another win

G1 Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi will back-up for her third race in 22 days in Saturday’s G2 Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick with the total confidence of her trainer James Cummings.

Kiamichi scored a momentous all-the-way win in the Golden Slipper on 23 March, was a good third in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes behind stablemate Microphone at Randwick last Saturday and drops back from the 1,400m of that race to 1,200m here.

“She’s come out of the Sires’ like she has out of every street fight she’s been in – like a typical, tough Darley-sired two-year-old,” Cummings said.

“We discussed going to the Champagne Stakes, and I don’t think we can rule out that, in time, Kiamichi would be capable of running out 1,600m, after all her half-brother is a Derby winner.”

“But, in the interests of the filly, 1,200m sets up beautifully for her.”

“The Percy Sykes is like one more gallop for the horse, and then she’s in the paddock on Monday.”

Kiamichi is one of five Cummings-trained Godolphin runners in Saturday’s race.

Also entered are the G3 Black Opal Stakes winner Pin Sec, the recent Flemington Listed winner Flit and the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes fourth place getter, Athiri.

Pin Sec came into the Golden Slipper in fine form, but failed to handle the wet track and is expected to improve here.

“She’s enjoyed the three weeks since the Slipper and will look a lot better back to fillies’ company after struggling on the heavy track at Rosehill,” Cummings said.

“She may never get a better chance at set weights and penalties in a million-dollar fillies’ race.”

“Flit is an immature but talented filly who will respond well again with a bit of time since her last run.

“Athiri will get the best of a pull in the weights here and off a seven-day back-up and up to six furlongs on drying ground here, she’ll find conditions in her favour.

“Don’t forget she started favourite in the Blue Diamond, the Magic Night and the Kindergarten Stakes.”

While the Godolphin juveniles dominate the Percy Sykes, the filly Amercement is on her own in the Listed Fernhill Handicap, but looks well-suited by the step up to 1,600m.

“This is a fantastic race for a filly who has been enjoying herself in shorter races,” Cummings said.

“The 1,600m will suit her and it sets up well for a horse who was less than three-lengths from a subsequent Golden Slipper winner last start in the Magic Night coming from last on the turn.”

Godolphin’s Randwick contingent is completed by Encryption who has his chance to return to winning form in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.