James Cummings had a good excuse for not being trackside at Randwick to watch debutante Ojai take out the opening race.
The Godolphin head trainer and his wife Monica welcomed a baby boy, Oliver, on Friday night so while his equine baby was busy winning the Kirkham Plate, his human baby took priority.
“The breeding barn has been very busy in the Cummings family,” assistant trainer Darren Beadman said.
“Little baby Oliver and Mum are well, and James is jumping out of his skin.
“They had the bub last night so James has got a little bit on his plate, but I’m sure he’d be ecstatic with that win.”
Ojai, pronounced ‘Oh-hi’, is out of Matilija and is named after the Matilija hot springs in the American county of Ojai in California.
The two-year-old started $14 and enjoyed a beautiful run behind leader Secret Revolution, pushing out through a gap in the straight to outpoint Queen Of The Ball ($9.50) by a head.
The runner-up was also having her first start and wandered around over the final stages, all but costing herself the race, while Snitcat ($7) raced handy and stuck to her task, finishing another length away third.
Beadman described Ojai as a straightforward filly and a natural athlete.
“The way that filly has come through the trial and the way she acquitted herself here today pre-race, she’s just a very professional, athletic filly,” Beadman said.
“She put herself in the right spot and like the majority of our two-year-olds, they all handle the big occasion well.”
Beadman confirmed the winner could press on to the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill in two weeks if she came through the race in
