GODOLPHIN trainer James Cummings concedes comparisons between emerging superstar, Broadsiding, and his former champion, Anamoe, are inevitable.
“I know there is a lot of talk about them but they are different types of horses, Anamoe and Broadsiding,’’ Cummings said.
“But I did have the same level of confidence going into the JJ Atkins with Broadsiding last week as I had with Anamoe before he won the ATC Sires at Randwick (three years ago).
“In a funny way they are not so different in terms of potential – obviously Broadsiding has a long way to go although he has caught everyone’s attention winning four stakes races in a row and he has won three at 1600m which for a two-year-old is a huge effort.’’
Broadsiding has vaulted into contention for Champion Two-year-old honours with his late season form surge culminating in his second Group 1 win of the season in the JJ Atkins.
READ: ‘He is special’: Broadsiding lays claim to our champion two-year-old
The brilliant son of Too Darn Hot completed the Champagne Stakes-JJ Atkins Group 1 double – the first horse to achieve the feat since the legendary Luskin Star in 1977.
Anamoe also had an outstanding two-year-old season in 2020-21, winning the Sires, finishing runner-up in the Golden Slipper and third in the Blue Diamond.
He then trained on to win another eight Group 1 races, amassing more than $12 million in prizemoney and claiming Horse of the Year honours in 2022-23.
Broadsiding winning the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce in the lead up to his Group 1 JJ Atkins triumph Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside Photography.
During Anamoe’s spring three-year-old season, Cummings ran the colt in the Golden Rose (second to In The Congo) and then the Caulfield Guineas which he won brilliantly before a luckless second in the Cox Plate to Irish raider State Of Rest.
It is widely expected Cummings will follow a similar program with Broadsiding this spring carnival although the Godolphin maestro revealed he is keeping all his options open.
Cummings has demonstrated that he is prepared to run his top three-year-olds at weight-for-age against older horses during spring and hasn’t ruled out starting Broadsiding in the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick’s The Everest meeting on October 19.
Interestingly, there is increasing speculation that His Majesty, King Charles III, will be at Randwick on Everest Day to present the trophy of the race named in his honour to winning connections.
The King Charles III Stakes, formerly known as the George Main Stakes, was once an exceptional race for three-year-olds but few from the age group have contested it since the introduction of the Golden Rose in 2003.
Viscount was the last three-year-old to win the Randwick 1600m weight-for-age race in 2001 but in the decade prior, the age group dominated the race with wins from Coronation Day (1992), March Hare (1993), Encounter (1997), Dracula (1998) and Shogun Lodge (1999).
“The King Charles III is three weeks after the Golden Rose and a week after the Caulfield Guineas,’’ Cummings said.
“It is not impossible for Broadsiding to run in the King Charles as we have another very good colt heading to the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas in Traffic Warden.
“Broadsiding could go to the King Charles and Cox Plate, he could go from the King Charles to the Spring Champion and there’s even the possibility he could run in Golden Rose, King Charles and (Victoria) Derby.
“The Cox Plate is there, I am leaving the door ajar for all of those possibilities.’’
James Macdonald drives home Broadsiding in the mud to land the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Royal Randwick in April Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors reacted to the news of Broadsiding potentially lining up in the King Charles III Stakes by inserting the colt at $11 in early betting behind racing’s exciting machine Pride Of Jenni at $3.40.
Broadsiding is already on the third line of betting at $8 for the $5 million Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley (2040m) on October 26 behind Pride Of Jenni at $4 and Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior at $4.50.
Cummings said Broadsiding, which is now spelling after his outstanding juvenile campaign, could even go first-up into the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 21 where the Godolphin colt is early favourite at $4.
“Broadsiding will ‘throttle’ down for a few weeks but I don’t want to give him a long spell,’’ the trainer said.
“We are going to approach his spring preparation more English-style. I think I can get him back into work pretty soon and will be gauged by how quickly he is coming to hand.’’
Cummings also confirmed brilliant mare In Secret is Godolphin’s “premier-elect” for the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 19.
“In Secret has been so cuddled this year that I can’t help but expect her to be absolutely flying in the spring,’’ Cummings said. “I have time to give her two runs into The Everest if I think she needs it.’’
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$5 million King Charles 111 Stakes (1600m), Royal Randwick, October 19
$3.50 Pride Of Jenni
$4 Fangirl
$6 Celestial Legend
$8 Via Sistina
$11 Broadsiding, Mr Brightside
$15 and longer the rest
$5 million Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley, October 26
$4 Pride Of Jenni
$4.50 Romantic Warrior
$8 Broadsiding, Prognosis
$11 Via Sistina
$15 and longer the rest
– TAB Fixed Odds