So often a hard-luck story since transferring from Andre Fabre to James Cummings, Cascadian (GB) finally had the breaks go his way under a perfectly-timed ride by Jamie Kah in Saturday’s $3,000,000 The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.
One of the fancies in the race twelve months ago after winning the Doncaster Prelude, the 6yo gelded son of New Approach (IRE) has been winless in nine starts since.
It took every inch of the 1600m for Cascadian (GB) to catch the 4yo Sacred Falls mare Icebath, who looked to have the race in her keeping following a brilliant rails-hugging ride by Jay Ford, only to be inched in a thrilling finish. The Dalakhani 4yo Dalasan was three-quarter of length back in third.
“The team have done a magnificent job to get this horse nice and lean. To Liam O’Rourke and to all the guys, really behind the scenes, in what is a magnificent blue army - on days like this, we’ve got to be so grateful,” winning trainer James Cummings said.
“When horses can come off the plane of his calibre we know that we’re cooking with gas.
“While he hasn’t won a heap of races since he’s been here, we’ve worked out a few things with him. We just mucked around with him a bit this preparation. Twelve months ago he was winning a Doncaster Prelude and now he’s got up and won the Doncaster. I’m really lost for words how remarkable it is to have this horse to finally get up and win one of these big grand finals.
“We were very keen to try and book her (Kah) for a lightweight ride in the Doncaster and we had a few circling.
Once Cascadian come through the George Ryder with such a brilliant fourth, and we got the opportunity to drop back in weight, Jamie’s team were very happy to ride him. It didn’t rely on me to make much of a point to her, she was very keen to be on him and she had the right plan. She thought about the race exactly the way we did and that’s put us in the frame.
“A couple of years ago we won the Slipper and the Ranvet on the same day. But for Animoe to convert (in the Sires) and for the Doncaster trophy to come back to Godolphin is fantastic. We had had a lean trot, we had a run of outs the last two weeks, but it felt like it was our turn this weekend - our horses were perfect and the guys have worked very very hard.”
Kah said he could not have hoped for a better run.
“I am a bit speechless to be honest,” Kah said.
“I was talking to Hughie (Hugh Bowman on favourite Mugatoo) in the gates and said ‘I’m going to follow you. I hope you win but if you don’t I am going to win’.
“We got a beautiful run. Everything just opened up at the right time for him. He probably waited a little bit on the line, that is why I wasn’t sure if I had got it or not. But, he stuck his nose out though and I couldn’t be happier.”
Cascadian (GB) had some very useful form in France when trained by Andre Fabre highlighted by wins at Chantilly and twice at Maisons-Laffitte before finishing second to Intellogent in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat.
The son of Epsom Derby hero New Approach is the best of three winners out of the talented Street Cry (IRE) mare Falls Of Lora whose four wins included the Group III UAE Oaks and the Listed Distaff Stakes at Sandown.
Cascadian becomes the ninth Group 1 winner for Galileo’s New Approach (IRE) whose 4-time Group 1 winning son Dawn Approach (IRE) sired Godolphin’s impressive Group III Kindergarten Stakes winner Paulele earlier in the day.
