Racing
Godolpin's Blue Army on the march this autumn
Cinsault, one of the most improved mares in training, can continue Godolphin's Group 1-winning momentum in the $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
In a wide-ranging interview with Racing And Sports, Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv reflected on the all-powerful racing and breeding organisation's recent success and revealed autumn carnival plans for some of their big "guns" including:
- Zambales and Medicinal will take their place in next week's Golden Slipper
- Crack colt Observer goes to the Rosehill Guineas and not the Australian Cup
- All-Star Mile winner Tom Kitten will take his place in the Australian Cup#Dual Group 1 winner Tentyris to be set for the TJ Smith Stakes but will not go to Royal Ascot
- Brilliant filly Tempted is likely to have her next start in the Arrowfield Sprint
- The long term target for both Tentyris and Tempted is The Everest
"It has been a great few weeks with five Group 1 winners so far this calendar year,'' Makiv said.
"The whole racing team is going well and so are our stallions.''
Cinsault might not be the best racehorse in the star-studded Godolphin team but her rapid rate of improvement this preparation has commanded a Coolmore Classic start.
After being placed in her first eight starts, Cinsault finally broke her maiden back in July.
The Michael Freedman-trained mare has made up for lost time this campaign winning four of her five starts beginning with a comeback benchmark 64 win at the Canterbury midweeks in December to her most recent run where she held off Lazzura to win the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill.
"Cinsault is a talented filly who has had a great season with Michael,'' Makiv said.
"We are delighted with her progression. It gets a bit harder for her now but she's going well as is her sire, Brazen Beau.''
"Medicinal won well over 1000m last start and we think she can run a strong 1200m,'' Makiv said.
"In a year where it seems the two-year-olds are very even, as it sits right now she is a filly worth her chance in the Slipper. The Hayes boys are keen to run her.''
Zambales ran on strongly to just miss when second in the VRC Sires Produce Stakes last week and Makiv doesn't mind bringing the giant colt back from 1400m to the Golden Slipper.
"Zambales is a good, consistent, tough colt, he is very genuine,'' Makiv said.
"It was hard going to win from where he was (in the run) last week but he never runs a bad race.
"A lot of the two-year-old races have lacked a bit of tempo where I've viewed them from this season but with a full field of 16 in the Slipper and they drop the 'hammer', a horse coming back from 1400m might be the one.''
Makiv said Zambales gives him "Von Costa De Hero vibes" referring to the former Darley two-year-old who won the VRC Sires then ran a close second to Sebring in the Golden Slipper in 2008.
Godolphin has Hardanger lining up in the Group 3 $250,000 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and Outspan in the Group 3 $250,000 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) but either two-year-old would need to win very impressively to back up in the Golden Slipper.
Makiv then provided an update on some of Godolphin's main autumn carnival hopefuls including outstanding three-year-old sprinters Tentyris and Tempted.
Makiv also confirmed The Everest is the number one target for Tempted this spring after the filly beat all but Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising in the world's richest turf race last year.
"I think all our overseas planning will be for 2027,'' Makiv said when asked about a Royal Ascot campaign for Tentyris.
"Our thinking is Tentyris will go to the ($3 million) TJ Smith Stakes (1200m, Randwick, April 4) and then there is every intention he will train on for his four-year-old season and be aimed at The Everest.
"As for Tempted, we are very mindful of looking after her. We only gave her three runs in spring and she has only had two in autumn and may finish up race a race like the ($1 million) Arrowfield Sprint (1200m, Randwick, April 4).
"We haven't ruled out the TJ Smith but there is a slight leaning to the Arrowfield. It is hard to win a TJ but it is also very hard to win the Arrowfield if we don't have either in that race.
"Then Tempted will probably go for a spell and we can launch into her four-year-old season and go for The Everest again. We will let her develop and furnish and hopefully she will be around for a long time.''
"It is three weeks from the Australian Guineas to the Rosehill Guineas compared to four weeks to the Australian Cup,'' Makiv said.
"The Rosehill Guineas gives us another opportunity to build Observer's profile within his age group.
"You can always run in the Australian Cup next year, you can't run in the Rosehill Guineas next year.
"So, we thought on balance we will head north and have a crack at the Rosehill Guineas.''
Makiv also conceded Godolphin had not locked in a start for Observer in the Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 4.
"We are not thinking the Derby right now and not for any other reason than training for a Derby is quite arduous,'' Makiv said.
"I'm also conscious that two Derby preparations in a season is quite tough on them.
"We will be guided by Ciaron (Maher, trainer) but I'm thinking the Rosehill Guineas might put him out but if he comes through it well we can always cross that bridge.''
"We are still working out what we do with Beiwacht,'' Makiv said.
"So, we have given Chris (Waller, trainer) the thought process of either the George Ryder Stakes or the TJ Smith Stakes. We are waiting to see what Chris comes back to us with.
"I keep thinking his Golden Rose win over 1400m around that bend was unbelievable and he would give them something to chase in a Ryder.''
Godolphin already has Pericles being aimed at the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Slipper Day while Tom Kitten is likely to line up in the Group 1 $2 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28.
"Tom Kitten will run in either the Australian Cup or the Doncaster Mile,'' he said. "At this stage, we are leaning to the Australian Cup.''
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