Zardozi and Tamerlane give Team Godolphin a Stakes double at Flemington

James Cummings’ plans to send Zardozi and Tamerlane to Melbourne were rewarded when the pair scored impressive wins at Flemington on Saturday, 7 October.

Zardozi, unplaced in two Sydney starts this preparation, rocketed home to win the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes over 1,600m.

Tamerlane, a first-up fifth at Randwick in the G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap three weeks ago, led all the way in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes (1,400m).

Only six days after an unlucky seventh at Sandown, Zardozi made amends and resurrected her spring campaign with Chad Schofield in the saddle.

The three-year-old daughter of Kingman and Dubai mare Chanderi is now on a possible G1 VRC Oaks path after beating Aprilia by 1.5 lengths, with Amazonian Lass three-quarters of a length away in third place.

“She’s back in the game now and, for a filly like her with her big pedigree, a G2 Edward Manifold Stakes will go a long way,” Cummings said.

“Things haven’t gone to plan at her first three runs back, but she’s back in the game and a G2 winner.

“She’s finally justified how well I think she’s been going this prep.

“From here we get an opportunity to plot our path through the remainder of the spring.

“She will be a very interesting prospect stepping up in distance.”

Zardozi took her record to four wins from seven starts for prize money earnings of A$304,950.

All her wins have been with Schofield in the saddle.

“She’s turning into a lovely filly, I always thought she would,” the jockey said.

“I won her first three races on her and she raced through the grades.

“She improved quickly over that short period of time.

“I rode her first-up this prep and the distance was too short.

“But she’s really settled into her prep now and she won very impressively here.

“We got the gap at the right time and I loved the way she went through her gears, she won quite softly in the end.”

Regarding a possible Oaks assault, Schofield said: “It’s a different race altogether, but she just wants to relax and find a nice rhythm so she’s going to give herself every opportunity to run the trip.

“She was incredibly strong through the line, so I cannot see why not.”

Tamerlane was also strong to the post after leading from a wide gate.

Cummings was quick to point out the treble – Tamerlane in the Paris Lane ridden by Damian Lane.

“He was our triple treat for the day,” the trainer said.

“He’ll go up a little bit in the ratings, we sacrificed the opportunity to run in a rich race here in Sydney.

“But small fish make sweet eating and that’s a win we can dine out on tonight.”

Tamerlane was scratched from the A$1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill.

At Flemington, he beat Just Folk by 1.75 lengths with Umgawa another 1.25 lengths further back in third place.

The six-year-old Golden Horn gelding has now won eight races and been placed nine times from 29 starts for a prize money swag of A$704,415.

Cummings also tasted success at Rosehill Gardens, with Stanislaus arriving in the last stride to win the Racing And Sports BM78 Handicap (1,100m).

The Exceed And Excel three-year-old, ridden by Zac Lloyd, took his record to three wins and one placing from eight starts.