Godolphin trainer James Cummings says the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes might just be the best race over the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
While the Group 1 Victoria Derby takes centre stage on the opening day of the Carnival, the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), also run on Saturday at Flemington, has not missed out on its share of discussion.
A field of 16 quality colts, and one filly, will do battle down the Flemington straight with the winner assured of a bright future at stud.
“Any colt that wins this race has a bright future as a stallion prospect and this is just about going to be the race of the carnival,” Cummings said.
“Essentially, this is the Golden Slipper for the spring three-year-olds.”
Cummings and Godolphin will be represented by three runners on Saturday.
Damien Oliver climbs aboard Paulele with Fred Kersley, who won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes on Kallos, again riding that colt while Ingratiating has the services of Daniel Moor for the first time.
Paulele ($7) is the best fancied with TAB of the three Godolphin runners from Kallos ($11) and Ingratiating while Extreme Warrior is the market leader at $4.40.
Oliver has ridden Paulele twice previously, finishing out of the money in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) before freshening up to win Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick in April.
Paulele has had four runs this campaign and is coming off a last start win in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 9.
“The horse is flying, he’s done nothing wrong and he has form around all the right horses, In The Congo and Home Affairs,” Cummings said.
“And he’s coming into this coming off the best trial you could get, winning the Roman Consul.”
Cummings was impressed with the way Kallos went about his work winning the Danehill Stakes (1100m) down the straight at Flemington.
“He just looked like a Coolmore type winning the Danehill so stylishly,” Cummings said.
“He pulled up well and we’ve been able to freshen him up again since then.”
After two good efforts to start his campaign, Ingratiating ran a disappointing ninth to his stablemate in the Danehill Stakes before bouncing back with his third-place finish in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 22, against the older horses.
“We like the fact the horse is back on track with that positive effort at Moonee Valley,” Cummings said.
“He’s backed-up once before for a narrow loss in the Blue Diamond, so there’s a lot to like about the way he sets up.”