A return to weight-for-age conditions and the promise of a solid tempo could prove an ideal formula for Cascadian to return to the Group 1 winner’s stall at Randwick.
Last year’s Doncaster Mile winner finished ninth in his attempt to defend his title in the feature handicap last start, settling last in the 20-horse field and making good ground to be beaten less than four lengths.
He drops back to 1400m in Saturday’s All Aged Stakes at Randwick and with the likes of In The Congo, Ellsberg, Shout The Bar , Olmedo and Forbidden Love all likely to go forward, trainer James Cummings can see the race setting up nicely for Cascadian.
“Weight-for-age will be much better for Cascadian and there’s a lot of pace in this race with a large number of horses who prefer to settle right up there on the speed,” Cummings said.
“That will suit a horse who has had a good grounding this preparation and who should be extremely fit, albeit dropping back in distance.”
In The Congo is favoured to become the first three-year-old since Trapeze Artist four years ago to beat the older horses in the All Aged Stakes, with Cascadian being kept safe as a $12 chance.
Cummings will also be relying on another stable stalwart in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) with Kementari Godolphin’s sole runner after the scratching of Roheryn.
Nicknamed ‘Special K’, Kementari won his only start on heavy ground when successful at Doomben in January and tuned up for his return with a recent barrier trial at Warwick Farm.
“He won stylishly two starts ago at his first look at a really heavy track and there’s no doubt he’s going well,” Cummings said.
“His most recent hit-out was what I wanted to see. He’s coming to hand quickly.”
