It is a case of what might have been for Aft Cabin, sensationally scratched from the Caulfield Guineas last spring as a short-priced favourite, when he bled in training.
The son of Astern made a spectacular return to the track with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Group III Fujitsu General Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Ridden by James McDonald for James Cummings, Aft Cabin cruised up the Randwick rise under minimal urging to defeat the Zoustar colt Zou Tiger by a length and a quarter, with the Russian Revolution gelding Communist three-quarter length back in third.
It was the first start for Aft Cabin since his three-and-a-half-length romp in the Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
With his second Group III success, Aft Cabin advances his record to three wins and two seconds from five starts with earnings of $366,800.
“He has had an uncomplicated preliminary in the build-up to this,” James Cummings said.
“He’s had so much promise about him in the spring, which was cut short.
“He’s had a good spell, and provided that he continues to return to scale after performances like that, and looks in perfect health, I feel he’s in for a
wonderful campaign.
“We can sit down and enjoy nominating him for all the good races on Tuesday.
"There is no doubt that he’s a class horse, and the race stacked up.
“James put him in a great position one out, one back, used him up a little bit to be on the outside of Zou Tiger, which was our A1 position on the tactical front.
“We’ve arrived here on the Eastern front and conquered. He’s been down south of the Murray, and now his target is to proceed towards the Hobartville, and that will be the ideal lead-up to the Randwick Guineas two weeks later.”
After Cabin is one of five winners from as many to race out of the Lonhro mare Shelters. He is a half-brother to the Group III PJ Bell Hcp winner Multaja (Medaglia d’Oro) and three-quarter to the Listed ATC Lonhro Plate winner Veranillo (Medaglia d’Oro).
A sister to Group 1 BRC TJ Smith Stakes winner Benfica, Shelters has a yearling colt by Harry Angel (IRE) and a colt foal by Brazen Beau. Shelters visited Astern again last spring.
