James Cummings is hoping to join his famous grandfather on the honour roll of Australian Cup winners, however he will need to be training a long time to match his record.
Bart Cummings won the race 13 times, the last in 2008 with Sirmione with other notable winners being Leilani (1975), Hyperno (1981), Let’s Elope (1992), Saintly (1996) and Dane Ripper (1998).
The younger Cummings joined his grandfather in a training partnership for a number of years but did not attain Australian Cup success while he was expected to win the 2019 edition with Avilius who carried the Godolphin blue colours into fifth position behind Harlem as the $1.65 favourite.
Cascadian will wear the Godolphin colours for Cummings in Saturday’s Group 1 race over 2000m and the trainer is confident the imported seven-year-old is positioned to run a forward race.
The gelding has raced just once at 2000m, closing out last year’s spring campaign with a second-place finish to Zaaki in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 6.
Cascadian has raced twice this campaign, finishing third to Tofane in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 12 before winning the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at that same track two weeks later.
Caulfield has not been Cascadian’s favourite course and both Cummings and jockey Damien Oliver expect the roomier Flemington lay-out to suit on Saturday.
“He’s going great,” Cummings said.
“We’re pleased to bring him into the Australian Cup as a last-start winner with weight-for-age form on his side.
“He’s got the right draw to get run-of-the-race and we’re just very, very pleased with the way he’s prepared for this target race.
“Having seen him look so strong in the Mackinnon last year at this track, he gets back to Flemington for the first time this prep ready to produce a big performance.”