Three years after they made history by becoming the first Australian father and son to train Group 1 winners on the same program, Anthony and James Cummings have done it again.
The pair first achieved the feat in Queensland in 2019 when James Cummings, head trainer for Godolphin, won the Stradbroke Handicap with Trekking and Anthony the J J Atkins Stakes with Prince Fawaz.
On Saturday, Anthony got first points on the board when he produced She’s Extreme for an upset victory in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) before James added the All Aged Stakes (1400m) with evergreen gelding Cascadian.
“(Media commentator) Bruce McAvaney told me when I won the Stradbroke (with Trekking) and Dad won the J J Atkins (with Prince Fawaz), it was the first time in Australian history it had ever been done,” James Cummings said.
“I said to Bruce, well we will get up and do it again one day. It has taken us three years.”
Cascadian gave Godolphin their second feature of the afternoon after fellow stable stalwart Kementari earlier claimed the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes, courtesy of a heart-stopping ride by Nash Rawiller who steered the gelding through a needle-eye opening to win.
Cummings revealed he casually made mention of Rawiller’s ride to Cascadian’s jockey James Mcdonald as they discussed tactics for the All Aged Stakes (1400m).
“James came out to the enclosure and I said, ‘what did you think of the ride on Kementari?’,” Cummings recalled.
“He said, ‘mate, if you think I’m going to ride Cascadian like Nash rode Kementari, you need to find another jockey’.”
McDonald didn’t need to thread the needle on his charge with Cascadian ($11) launching from the pack to run down a brave Tofane ($13) and score by a length.
Ellsberg ($11) was another 2-1/2 lengths away third.
Cummings said the win made amends for Cascadian’s unlucky third in the corresponding race 12 months ago.
“It was quite breathtaking really and a special victory for the horse, who has got so much heart,” Cummings said.
“James (McDonald)was travelling as good as any jockey coming to the turn and was able to navigate his way through and pick the runs when he needed to and the horse let down and won the All Aged that I think he should have won last year.”
Tofane defied a wide run to shoot to the front halfway up the straight and just fell short at what was final race start before she is sold as a broodmare prospect.