James Cummings is keeping his cards close to his chest on immediate plans for Rosehill Guineas winner Broadsiding but he isn’t ruling out an international campaign.
The colt had to draw on class and courage to notch his fourth Group 1 win after being caught wide from an outside draw in the initial stages, prompting James Mcdonald to burn some energy early to find a better position.
He eventually landed in a trailing role but the champion jockey admitted it was touch and go.
“It was one of those moments where you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t, so we rolled the dice, had a crack, paid off,” McDonald said.
“There was no real plan, just go with the flow. At the first bend, I thought, oh no, then one worked out. I ended up with the one-one (one out, one back) and it was a good win.”
Broadsiding ($2.90 betting sites fav) ranged up to the leaders on straightening then lifted when eventual third placegetter Swiftfalcon ($3.90) mounted his challenge, but he was all out as Aeliana ($5.50) dived late.
The filly missed by a short half-head with Swiftfalcon another three-quarters of a length away.
“He’s probably not a genuine 2000 metre horse, but he is a brilliant horse and he has got up and won the Rosehill Guineas so fair play to him,” James Cummings said.
“He has probably done it the hard way and his performance is worth reflecting on, so before I go and rule him out of other 2000 metre races in the future, it’s worthwhile saying that.”
Cummings described Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas (2000m) as “something of an audition for Broadsiding,” adding an overseas tilt wasn’t “off the table” for the son of sprinter-miler Too Darn Hot.
“He’s a lot like his sire, I feel, and having had some interesting discussions with some people in the Northern Hemisphere, I think it’s worthwhile keeping that in mind,” Cummings said.
“So we won’t go to the (Australian) Derby but we will keep at least another run in mind for him.
“He’s got so much speed about him and he’s a genuine Group One horse. We’ve got options.”
Cummings said the Doncaster Mile remained an option, although he felt Broadsiding wasn’t well weighted in the handicap.
However, the Randwick feature might be on the agenda for Swiftfalcon with jockey Tyler Schiller believing he will be better suited back in distance.
“He has come up against a couple of cracking horses. Back to a mile in the Doncaster will suit him perfectly,” Schiller said.
