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Impending Leads Big Godolphin Team At Doomben

3 minute read

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is confident defending Stradbroke champion Impending can land his second Group One win in Saturday’s $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Doomben.

Cummings took the reins at Godolphin almost one year ago with Impending giving him his first G1 win for Sheikh Mohammed when he won the Stradbroke at Doomben last June.

Impending finished second in the G1 Doomben Ten Thousand behind English earlier this month with Le Romain finishing a close third.

Impending
Impending Picture: Racing and Sports

Cummings is confident Impending, to be retired to stud after he contests next month’s $1.5 million Stradbroke for a second time, can turn the tables on English.

“The step-up to 1350 metres will be in his favour. He was really rocketing to the line nicely in the Ten Thousand,” Cummings said.

“He arrives at this race third up and in prime condition. I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s trained on.

“He galloped on the course proper at Doomben on Tuesday and let down beautifully.

“He hit the line well but was still very well held together in the style of a horse who’s in the best form of his career.

“He’s really set up for a big run this time.”

While Cummings is upbeat about Impending’s chances English’s jockey Tim Clark expects the mare to again be hard to beat.

Clark rode English in her work at the Gold Coast on Tuesday and says she has thrived in Queensland.

“She worked well. She's had a pretty long preparation but she cruised around nicely and seems to really be enjoying her time at the Gold Coast,” Clark said.

"She has bounced back 100% and seems to be really thriving. I'm sure she will run a hell of a race again."

English wins the Doomben 10,000
English wins the Doomben 10,000 Picture: Racing and Sports

Cummings will saddle-up a strong team of eight horses at Doomben with runners in five other feature races.

He will start Interlocuter in the Premier’s Cup, the trio of It’s Somewhat, Duca Valentinois and Spectroscope in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, Dynamited in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Ghisoni in the Glenlogan Park Stakes and Marsupial in the Fred Best Classic.

Cummings is bullish about the chances of Interlocuter, who steps up in distance to 2200m in the G3 Premier’s Cup.

“He’s continued to thrive. He steps up in distance and the way he’s racing it should suit him,” Cummings said.

“We were certainly pleased with the strong piece of work he produced at Doomben on Tuesday.”

Interlocuter
Interlocuter Picture: Racing and Sports

Cummings advised that It’s Somewhat, a scratching from last weekend’s Doomben Cup due to a fever, will wear blinkers in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m).

“We’ve gone for the blinkers with him because we think he might just need something to kick him into gear,” Cummings said.

He said Duca Valentinois was in the best form of his three Lord Mayor’s Cup runners.

“Duca Valentinois comes here after going down narrowly in the Scone Cup last time when carrying topweight,” he said.

“He’s better suited at weight-for-age this time and it’s also a race that he ran well in last year so I think that with a very similar form profile he can produce another good run.”


Racing and Sports

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