GODOLPHIN "GUNS" TRIAL AT HAWKESBURY

MONDAY: July 9, 2021: GODOLPHIN’S head Australian trainer James Cummings trialled 19 horses – including a number of his big “guns” – at Hawkesbury today.

Cummings, no stranger to trialling his horses at the provincial track, took 10 older horses – including Group 1 winners Colette, Cascadian and Best Of Days – and nine two-year-olds to the marathon 18-trial session to assist with their spring preparations.

He won three 800m 2YO Open trials with Naples and Picarones (both ridden by Rachel King), and Athelric (Hugh Bowman).

They clocked 47.45 secs, 47.71s and 47.55s respectively.

Last year’s ATC Oaks and Golden Eagle winner Colette (King) was given a quiet trial, finishing sixth to former Godolphin stablemate Rebukes (now with Claire Lever at Hawkesbury) in an 800m heat in 47.21secs on a “Soft 5” surface.

The rising five-year-old mare is expected to trial again before likely beginning her spring campaign in the $500,000 Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 21.

This year’s Doncaster Mile winner Cascadian had Bowman up when seventh to Ballistic Moon in an 800m Open heat in 47.33s.

Stablemates Criaderas (James McDonald) and Best Of Days (King) finished fifth and sixth respectively in the same trial. The latter won the 2018 Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Cummings’ classy rising three-year-old Ingratiating, placed in this year’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, finished second to Have Mercy (prepared by his brother Edward at Hawkesbury) in an 800m 2YO Open heat in 46.81s.

Another promising Godolphin youngster Trifaccia (McDonald) was narrowly beaten by Bundchen in another 800m 2YO Open heat in 47.75s.

As well as winning a two-year-old heat with Have Mercy, Hawkesbury’s newest Group 1 winning trainer Edward Cummings also won a 1000m Open heat with Sunborn (Bowman).

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup also was heavily involved this morning, trialling 13 horses.

He won a 1000m 2YO Open heat with unraced Dissident filly Hayami, partnered by Sydney’s leading apprentice Tom Sherry.

Widdup’s stable star Icebath, narrowly beaten in both last year’s $7.5m Golden Eagle (by Colette) at Rosehill Gardens and this year’s $3m Doncaster Mile (by Cascadian) at Randwick, is progressing well and is expected to trial at Warwick Farm on Friday.

She will trial again before resuming at the Winx Stakes meeting at Randwick on August 21.

. Hawkesbury has three entries for the Midway Handicap (a 1500m Benchmark 72 Handicap) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Edward Cummings nominated Adamas Prince, and Garry White entered Alvin The Bold and War Cabinet.

All three horses are recent winners on their home track.