Valuable stallion prospect Golden Mile proved too good in his first run at 1600m with the Godolphin-raced favourite franking the Sydney form with a gutsy performance in the Group 1 $3 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
The Godolphin-raced Golden Mile was huge winning the 2022 Caulfield Guineas in Melbourne. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winner of the Ming Dyansty two back, the James Cummings-trained Astern colt was good last start running fourth behind The Everest contender Jacquinot in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
Stepping-up to a mile today, he was given a gun ride by now 70-time Group 1 winning jockey James McDonald to hand the Godolphin stable back-to-back Caulfield Guineas trophies.
Godolphin and Cummings won the race last year with Anamoe – ridden by Damien Oliver – who retuned on 2022 Caulfield Guineas Day to run the ideal Cox Plate trial with a Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) victory.
McDonald was aboard Anamoe in the Might And Power this spring and continued his good fortune with a 10/10 ride on Golden Mile to also salute for the punters in today’s feature.
“He (Golden Mile) was huge and the ride was just a pure ride,” Cummings told the media post-win.
“It makes a big difference when you can get a top jockey on.”
It proved a stirring edition of the Caulfield Guineas with McDonald settled midfield and one off the fence aboard Golden Mile.
Once on the straight he came hard down the middle of the track in a good battle to hit the front 100m out from the line and hold off the late challenge from Elliptical with the Chris Waller-trained Osipenko in third.
The Caulfield Guineas result was a huge relief for Cummings and the team after the pre-race favourite, Aft Cabin, bled from both nostrils in trackwork last weekend to be ruled out of the remainder of the spring.
“To have turned it around and seven days later still emerge with the winner, you can’t image the sort of sense of satisfaction and fatalism,” Cummings said.
“He (Golden Mile) just hasn’t stopped running slashing races in Sydney with the Caulfield Guineas written all over him.
“This is a big race, a son of Astern. Hasn’t that been the story this season, the emergence of Astern as a powerhouse stallion. We’re very lucky to have him in the barn.”
Golden Mile could now return to Sydney on October 22 chasing an interstate Group 1 double in the $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
The Caulfield Guineas winner is the firm all-in $3 favourite in futures markets on the Spring Champion through Ladbrokes.
