The 2022 Caulfield Guineas result was especially sweet for
James Cummings and the
Blue Army after they lost the pre-race favourite
Aft Cabin for the spring after a mishap in trackwork last weekend.
ASTERN - Sire Sensation
Young Godolphin stallion Astern looked to have a lock in the
Caulfield Guineas with
Aft Cabin, but with his enforced absence after a training mishap 7 days earlier, it was time for
another son of Astern to step up in the
$3m Group 1 feature.
Cummings said he had experienced a roller coaster of emotions in terms of the
Caulfield Guineas after they had to scratch the short-priced favourite
Aft Cabin.
Golden Mile then became the Blue Army’s No.1 Caulfield Guineas candidate and replaced
Aft Cabin as
pre-market favourite.
James Cummings said that setback, and lessons learned from his master trainer grandfather
Bart Cummings and the late owner
Dato Tan Chin Nam entered his mind.
"Bart and Chin Nam used to laugh amongst each other about going from the zenith of hope to the abyss of despair and that's how I felt walking off the track last week," Cummings said.
"But to have turned it around seven days later, and still emerged with the winner, you can't imagine what a sense of satisfaction and the fatalism for us is pretty important (and) pretty special to us."
“He (Golden Mile) was huge, and the ride was just a pure ride, and it makes a difference when you can get a top jockey on,” Cummings said.
“The horse emerged to win his debut (at Ballarat). We brought him back to Sydney, gave him a good break, and he hasn’t stopped running slashing races in Sydney with the Caulfield Guineas written all over him.
“And in the background of all that, Crown Lodge (Sydney) sent down Aft Cabin - beautiful horse. Took the small fish, did everything right, and Carbine Lodge (Melbourne) just kept improving the horse when they got him, and with a week to go, it was heartache.
“Hasn’t that been a story this season? The emergence of Astern as a powerhouse stallion, and we’re very lucky to have him in the barn, and if he keeps producing horses like Aft Cabin and Golden Mile, then we’re well and truly there with a big advantage and we’ve got that to look forward to.”
A rich stud future was at stake for the winner of the stallion-making race, meaning millions more dollars were on the line.
McDonald had Golden Mile slotted one off the fence in seventh throughout, as Dashing and Lethal Thoughts led the field around.
GOLDEN MILE flashes down the outside
Once on the straight, the favourite Golden Mile ($2.10F) began his run in earnest, charging down the middle of the track to hit the lead 100m out from the line and finish off on top of the fast-finishing Dundeel colt Elliptical ($15).
GOLDEN MILE proves too strong !
Golden Mile out toughed his peers to give
Godolphin its second consecutive Caulfield Guineas after superstar Anamoe claimed the prize last year.
Golden Mile had travelled south with impeccable credentials with a
win in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty at Rosehill and a
close-up fourth in the Group 1 Golden Rose. The brilliant looking
Golden Mile franked the form out of Sydney, improving on his fourth to The Everest-bound Jaquinot in the
Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) to win down south.
Golden Mile could possibly return to Sydney next start for the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 22.
All-in 2022 Spring Champion Stakes where bookmakers have him installed as the
$3 favourite.
However, it still required James McDonald at his best to ensure a
Golden Mile triumphed by a head, from the fast-finishing
Dundeel colt Elliptical with the
Pierro colt Osipenko a neck back in third. Berkeley Square, Tijuana, and Amenable were all less than a length from the winner.
Golden Mile advances his record to 5 starts: 3 Wins, 1 Second, 1 Fourth and earnings of $2,016,500.
GOLDEN MILE Gr1 Winner
Jockey James McDonald said James Cummings gave him the key instruction to let
Golden Mile balance in the straight before asking him for his supreme effort.
"He would have rathered me being held up and flashing late than going too soon and getting run down," McDonald said.
“He worked into a nice enough spot. It was quite messy to the first bend. He actually went to go right instead of going left and was just off kilt a little bit, but once he gathered up momentum he idled into the race and had a great turn of foot and that’s what won him the race today,” McDonald said.
"He's a good horse and he won well."
JAMES Squared - James Cummings & James MacDonald
Golden Mile is the best of three winners from as many to race from the stakes winning Lonhro mare Calaverite, a half-sister to Group winners Gold Fever and Gold Rush.
Calaverite has a two-year-old colt by Exceed and Excel called Stanislaus that trialled earlier this week, a yearling colt by Microphone and is in foal to Street Boss (USA).
Golden Mile is the first Group 1 winner for Astern, pleasing those that have supported the Golden Rose winner at a fee of $11,000.
Cummings said winning the Caulfield Guineas, which was his
35th Group 1 win, was always a feat, as it was a big race.
He pointed out that Golden Mile is by Godolphin stallion Astern, and he was also the sire of Aft Cabin.
The win gave Astern his first Group 1 winner as a stallion.
Dynamic Syndications were delighted with the result of Golden Mile and the emergence of his sire ASTERN as the hottest Third Crop Sire in Australia.
Our Colt 28 September
We have a magnificent son of ASTERN available for our loyal owners.
OUR 2yo Colt by ASTERN x BETTER LIFE ridden by Shane Rose
Our Colt in training 29 September 22
We took the punt that ASTERN had the ability and bloodlines to be a success at stud, and put our money where our mouth is, when buying a sensational son of ASTERN from 4-time Champion Racemare BETTER LIFE.
Here is a fact that should not be lost by potential owners.
His Dam BETTER LIFE (by Smarty Jones – Kentucky Derby Winner), is the Best Racemare to produce a Son by ASTERN from this crop.
BETTER LIFE winning won of her 8 races
BETTER LIFE has a very strong race record. She won 8 races, inc 4 Stakes Races and was Stakes Performed on 7 occasions.
BETTER LIFE
BETTER LIFE was Champion Miler & Stayer in Singapore in 2012. Champion 4YO & Stayer in Singapore in 2013. 8 wins from 1200m to 2200m, S$1,942,849, Singapore Gold Cup, L, Singapore TC Kranji Mile, L, Queen Elizabeth II Cup, L, Singapore Derby, L, Hello Spain S., Novice H., Class 4 H., 2d Singapore TC Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy, Kranji C S., 3d Singapore TC Moonbeam Vase, L, 4th Singapore Guineas, L, Singapore 3YO Classic, L.
Only one mare named TWO BLUE (by Dubleo) has a similar impressive race record, winning 8 races including a Gr2 Winner ATC Sapphire Stakes, and she was also Stakes Performed on 7 occasions. 42 Starts: 8-13-4 & $692,550.
So, factually we do own the BEST-BRED SON of ASTERN from his Crop of 2020 (now 2yo’s).
There are only 43 live foals in the current crop of 2yo’s and only 19 males, and it’s a fact, he is the BEST-BRED SON.
And ASTERN has now proven a Sire Sensation and easily leads the Third Crop Sires Premiership.
ASTERN Data: Our colt is one of just 43 live foals in Australia foaled in 2020.
Importantly as above, he is one of just 19 live males (17 Colts & 2 Geldings) and 24 Fillies by ASTERN foaled in the 2020 season off a 2019 Service Fee of $33,000.
This now 2yo crop only to date has 13 named foals of the 43 live foals, being the 2 Geldings and 11 Fillies.
Whilst fashion followers may have dismissed ASTERN early on to be out of sight - out of mind, the industry pros were aware how good the sire was tracking.
Fortune favours the brave. Now the racing world has been made aware of just how well the sire is tracking.
THIRD CROP SIRES as at 10/10/22 by Earnings:
Sire
|
Rnrs
|
Wnrs
|
Money
|
Astern
|
39
|
12 (2)
|
$2,757,323
|
Capitalist
|
98
|
26 (1)
|
$1,184,142
|
Maurice
|
46
|
11 (1)
|
$1,033,155
|
Shalaa
|
68
|
17
|
$912,711
|
American Pharoah
|
50
|
13 (1)
|
$846,907
|
THIRD CROP SIRES as at 10/10/22 by Winning Strike Rate:
Sire
|
Rnrs
|
Wnrs
|
Strike Rate %
|
Astern
|
39
|
12 (2)
|
30.8%
|
Capitalist
|
98
|
26 (1)
|
26.5%
|
American Pharoah
|
50
|
13 (1)
|
26.0%
|
Shalaa
|
68
|
17
|
25.0%
|
Maurice
|
46
|
11 (1)
|
23.9%
|
ASTERN Stats are well on the way in their upward trajectory.
| Rnrs |
Wnrs
|
Wins
|
Pld
|
SH
|
SWnrs
|
SWns
|
SPld
|
SPerf
|
Earn
|
176
|
79
|
121
|
250
|
17
|
6
|
10
|
9
|
2
|
$9,482,626
|
So, it’s a simple equation! If YOU want the best – Buy it!
Best Sire = ASTERN – Champion Australian 3yo Colt
Best Dam = BETTER LIFE – 4-Time Champion Mare
Proven Sire = YES He Is – Australia’s Leading 3rd Crop Sire
Best Colt = YES He Is – Has the Best Pedigree Page of all Colts of 2020 Crop
Fantastic Type = YES He Is – Colossal Colt
Sound & Right = YES He Is – Passed Full Vet Examination, Scope and X-Rays
Broken-In = YES He Is – Superbly. Shane Rose “loved him”
Early Training = YES He Is – Moving Effortlessly – Floats across the ground with long easy strides
Trainers = RICHARD & WILL FREEDMAN – Rosehill.
176 Runners: 28 Wins (16%) & 47 Placings (43%)
5% Cost = $9,250 inc GST. – You can’t afford not too !
1 GOLDEN MILE 2019 b.c. 5 3 (2) 1 (1) 0 A$2,016,500 1200-1600
[Calaverite by Lonhro]
1st 2022 MRC Caulfield Guineas, Gr.1
1st 2022 ATC Ming Dynasty H., Gr.3
2nd 2022 ATC Up & Coming S., Gr.3
4th 2022 ATC Golden Rose S., Gr.1
2 SAIL BY (USA) 2019 b.f. 9 2 (1) 1 (1) 3 (3) US$225,025 1200-1700
[Fly By (USA) by Johar (USA)]
1st 2021 Belmont Miss Grillo S., Gr.2
2nd 2021 Monmouth Colleen S., L
3rd 2022 Belmont Soaring Softly S., Gr.3
3rd 2022 Aqueduct Memories of Silver S., L
3rd 2021 Saratoga PG Johnson S., L
3 SERADESS 2018 b.f. 12 5 (4) 0 2 (2) A$451,095 1000-1200
[Obsidian Dragon by Hidden Dragon]
1st 2022 SAJC Tobin Bronze S., Gr.2
1st 2021 MVRC Scarborough S., Gr.3
1st 2022 SAJC Proud Miss S., Gr.3
1st 2021 SAJC Cinderella S., L
3rd 2021 VRC Red Roses S., Gr.3
3rd 2022 SAJC Redelva S., L
4th 2021 MRC Thoroughbred Club S., Gr.3
4 AFT CABIN 2019 b.c. 4 2 (1) 2 (1) 0 A$256,800 1400
[Shelters by Lonhro]
1st 2022 MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude, Gr.3
2nd 2022 MRC HDF McNeil S., Gr.3
5 DANGER STRYKES (NZ) 2018 b.f. 5 1 (1) 0 1 NZ$29,890 1200
[She is Stryking by Stryker]
1st 2021 Wanganui JC Castletown S., L
6 OXYMORE (USA) 2020 br.g. 3 2 (1) 1 (1) 0 US$232,000 1100-1200
[Rainbow Dreams (USA) by Empire Maker (USA)]
1st 2022 Saratoga Skidmore S., L
2nd 2022 Monmouth Nownownow S., L
7 Arnaqueur 2018 b. or br.g. 14 3 0 1 (1) A$196,780 1300-1400
[Aloona (USA) by Smart Strike (CAN)]
3rd 2021 Newcastle JC Spring S., Gr.3
4th 2021 ATC Ming Dynasty H., Gr.3
4th 2021 ATC Dulcify S., L
4th 2021 ATC Fernhill H., L
STAKES PLACED
8 Brigantine 2018 b.g. 9 3 2 (2) 1 (1) A$366,600 1100-1300
[Lobola by Anabaa (USA)]
2nd 2021 MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude, Gr.3
2nd 2021 VRC Carbine Club S., Gr.3
3rd 2021 ATC Stan Fox S., Gr.2
9 C J 's Cat Five (CAN) 2019 b.f. 14 0 0 2 (1) US$28,225
[Art Affair (USA) by Mineshaft (USA)]
3rd 2021 Colonial Downs Jamestown S., L
10 Grael (USA) 2019 b.g. 6 1 0 4 (1) US$116,775 1600
[Fortress (USA) by Street Cry (IRE)]
3rd 2022 Turfway Park John Battaglia Memorial S., L
11 Mainstay (USA) 2019 b.f. 4 1 1 (1) 0 US$71,625 900
[Vero Amore (USA) by Mineshaft (USA)]
2nd 2021 Saratoga Schuylerville S., Gr.3
4th 2021 Saratoga Adirondack S., Gr.2
12 Miss Madison (NZ) 2018 br.f. 8 1 1 1 (1) NZ$22,360 1400
7 1 1 3 A$55,325 1400
[Kechika by More Than Ready (USA)]
3rd 2022 Auckland TR Oaks Prelude, L
13 She's a Mia (USA) 2019 b. or br.f. 7 1 4 (2) 0 US$118,979 1200
[Dear Willa (USA) by Here Comes Ben (USA)]
2nd 2021 Aqueduct Tepin S., L
2nd 2022 Saratoga Suzie O'Cain S., L
14 She's Like Thunder (USA) 2019 b.f. 9 0 1 (1) 2 US$50,200
[Thunder Way (USA) by Thunder Gulch (USA)]
2nd 2021 Laurel Selima S., L
15 Warp Ride (CAN) 2019 b.g. 9 2 1 3 (1) US$131,983 1000-1200
[Riding Point (USA) by Speightstown (USA)]
3rd 2022 Woodbine Vice Regent S., L