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Godolphin Australia trainer James Cummings has outlined plans to bring his first runner to Royal Ascot after saddling Bivouac to claim an emphatic victory in the G1 Darley Sprint Classic.
The colt brought the Spring Carnival to a close on Saturday with one of the meeting's most impressive performances when he stormed clear of last year's Everest winner Nature Strip to win by three and a quarter lengths.
The victory, under Glen Boss, was Bivouac's third at G1 level and took his career earnings past A$5.5 million (£3m).
"We are talking about an unbelievable horse with a frighteningly good turn of foot, "said Cummings, speaking to RSN 927. "He's been able to show that a number of times to stamp himself, I think, the best sprinter of his generation.
"The performance in the Darley Sprint can go right up there with his win in the Newmarket, right up there with his tough, gritty defeat of Yes Yes Yes in the Golden Rose. That's the class horse we are talking about and we are very very lucky to have a horse that good in our care."
Cummings, the grandson of legendary Bart Cummings, was appointed Godolphin's head trainer in 2017 and is yet to have a runner outside Australia.
"I don't think there will be any members of the team that aren't excited about the prospect of taking this horse abroad," he said. "I like the idea of including the Lightning in the horse's campaign for next year and we will use that as a launching pad for any exploits overseas.
"At the top of the list has to be Dubai and Royal Ascot. That can make for a big year for a colt but he's well capable of making that trip and undergoing that challenge because he's got a marvellous temperament."
