If Aft Cabin’s Eskimo Prince Stakes performance was a tantalising entrée to Godolphin’s autumn, the main course could be a veritable feast.
The three-year-old completely dominated his rivals in his Randwick return, his first start since a bleeding attack that forced the one-time Caulfield Guineas favourite to have his spring cut short, robbing him of his Group 1 opportunity.
As the Royal Blue army prepare to roll out heavyweights Anamoe and In Secret next weekend, trainer James Cummings says Aft Cabin will likewise be given every opportunity to put his name in lights during the carnival.
“Provided he continues to return to scale after performances like that and looks in perfect health, I feel like he is in for a wonderful campaign,” Cummings said.
“We can sit down and enjoy nominating him for all the good races on Tuesday.
“He’s got to do it, the pressure is on our horse and he is going to be put in the position to deliver when the big moments come around.”
The Eskimo Prince Stakes was Aft Cabin’s first win over 1200m and Cummings viewed his performance as an ideal campaign launchpad.
He will follow a traditional path to the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) in two weeks and a likely clash with stablemate and Expressway Stakes runner-up Golden Mile before his first major target – the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 4.
“He’s been down south of the Murray (in Victoria) 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,” Cummings said.
When asked if he felt the nerves heading into Saturday’s race with Aft Cabin, Cummings said his faith in the horse allayed any butterflies.
“Pressure is for tyres, but I think this horse has got plenty of ability to fill us up with confidence,” Cummings said.
“He has won the Eskimo Prince, he’s won a Caulfield Guineas Prelude but feet on the ground at this stage, he still has to do it but he is extremely promising.”
Aft Cabin gave James Mcdonald his fourth win on the program and the star jockey was over the moon with the colt’s return.
“Unbelievable turn of foot. He can only improve off today’s outing. He’s an ‘oo-la-la’,” McDonald said.
Aft Cabin ($2.20 Unibet fav) cruised to victory by 1-3/4 lengths over Zou Tiger ($3.90), who rallied after coming under pressure before the corner, with Communist ($10) another three-quarters of a length away, just ahead of the fast-finishing Brosnan ($61).