The decision to return quickly to action with Cascadian in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup proved a masterstroke as the ageless Godolphin warrior scored his greatest win in the feature event at Flemington. Unluckily beaten when second in the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley seven days earlier, Cascadian overcame traffic in the home straight to beat Numerian and Pounding in a stirring finish.
Trainer James Cummings was quietly confident during the week after Cascadian pulled up so well from the Valley. Cummings joined his brother Edward and legendary grandfather Bart on the Australian Cup honour roll. Bart won the race 13 times, while Edward won last year with Duais, his first runner in the event.
“I’m privileged as a young Cummings to be here on the big stage and have competitors in races like these,” Cummings said. Cascadian, the 8yo former English galloper won his third Group One, after the Doncaster Mile and All-Aged Stakes, giving jockey Ben Melham another big race success for Godolphin after riding Paulete to success in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth late last year.
“James has done a tremendous job to bring him here in that condition and to back up his All-Star Mile run with a sensational win like this is fantastic,” Melham said. “Jamie (Kah, Melham’s partner) won the Doncaster on him and I had a bit of advice off her how to ride him and she’s probably in hospital watching. “It was special and more so for the horse as well, he’s been deserving of a Group One here at Flemington and what a race to do it in.”
