3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after Cascadian takes out the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Cascadian (Jamie Kah/James Cummings) - $8
2nd: Icebath (Jay Ford/Brad Widdup) - $21
3rd: Dalasan (Jason Holder/Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas) - $31

Winning Time: 1:36.36 Last 600m: 36.14

Margins: Head x ¾L

Cascadian has grabbed it in the shadow of the post! A gun ride from @jamieleekah07 for @godolphin to win the 2021 G1 Doncaster Mile. pic.twitter.com/uXgl3jH5or

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 10, 2021

Winning Trainer: James Cummings

On the win: "The team have done a magnificent job to get this horse nice and lean. To Liam O'Rourke and to all the guys, really behind the scenes, in what is a magnificent blue army on days like this we've got to be so grateful. When horses can come off the plane of his calibre we know that we're cooking with gas."

"While he hasn't won a heap of races since he's been here, we've worked out a few things with him, we just mucked around with him a bit this preparation. 12 months ago he was winning a Doncaster Prelude and now he's got up and won the Doncaster. I'm really lost for words how remarkable it is to have this horse to finally get up and win one of these big grand finals."

On Jamie Kah: "It goes without saying, she's so far in front of the Victorian premiership it's daylight second. She's rating right up on the figures as James McDonald is rating in Sydney. We were very very keen to try and book her for a lightweight ride in the Doncaster and we had a few circling.

Once Cascadian come through the George Ryder with such a brilliant fourth and we got the opportunity to drop back in weight, Jamie's team were very happy to ride him. It didn't rely on me to make much of a point to her, she was very keen to be on him and she had the right plan. She thought about the race exactly the way we did and that's put us in the frame."

On winning the Sires and Doncaster on the same day: "A couple of years ago we won the Slipper and the Ranvet on the same day. But for Animoe to convert (in the Sires) and for the Doncaster trophy to come back to Godolphin is fantastic. We had had a lean trot, we had a run of outs the last two weeks, but it felt like it was our turn this weekend our horses were perfect and the guys have worked very very hard.

On having sympathy for the runner-up trainer and former Godolphin employee Brad Widdup: "We do have sympathy because too many times we've nosed him out or just beaten him in races. But he's a fantastic trainer, he'e done a marvellous job with Icebath to just go down in a Golden Eagle, what a race the Golden Eagle has turned out to be, and to just go down in a Doncaster is a credit to Brad's team.

Winning Jockey: Jamie Kah

On winning the Doncaster: "I am a bit speechless to be honest."

Tactics: "I was talking to Hughie (Hugh Bowman, Mugatoo) in the gates and said 'I'm going to follow you. I hope you win but if you don't I am going to win'."

In transit: "We got a beautiful run, everything just opened up at the right time for him. He probably waited a little bit on the line, that is why I wasn't sure if I had got it or not. But, he stuck his nose out though and I couldn't be happier."

Beaten Jockeys:

Hugh Bowman (Mugatoo): "Every chance."

James McDonald (Avilius): "He went great. Just looking for a bit of rain."

Josh Parr (Samadoubt): "Did nothing from a good position."

Sam Clipperton (Star Of The Seas): "He ran well but just not showing the zip he had."

Tommy Berry (Olmedo): "Too keen."

Tim Clark (Shout The Bar): "Just not up to it today."

Regan Bayliss (Zaaki): "He's got a serious G1 win in Australia. If he draws a barrier I think he goes close to winning that race."

Kerrin McEvoy (Aegon): "Checkered passage up the running."

Jason Holder (Dalasan): "Ran super. He got to the front but the challengers came. He's gone down but tried really hard."

Craig Williams (Funstar): "She didn't have any favours from the outside barrier but for a horse of her quality she didn't take me into the straight. Be interesting to see how she pulls up."

Rachel King (Best Of Days): "Just not good enough."

James Innes (Rock): "We were inside the winner. He travelled into it beautifully but just doesn't sprint on that surface."

Michael Poy (Nettoyer): No comment

Michael Dee (Yao Dash): "Might be feeling a little bit tired now."

Robbie Dolan (Mo'unga): "He's gotten home good. Just a strong run event and he was further back than he needed to be. But he got home well."

Dean Yendall (Forbidden Love): "Ran enormous. She didn't go enormous, she went well enough for her. Looking for the paddock."

Jay Ford (Icebath): "Ran was super. Had a good run in transit and when she took the split I thought she was home. Winner was too good."

Alysha Collett (Wheelhouse): "Didn't have much luck from the barrier but it was a really tough run."