Godolphin sprinter Impending scored his second Group One win on Saturday and will now return to the Doomben track in a fortnight with a chance to head to stud as a three-times elite level winner.
Impending ($4.20) came from near the tail of the field to swamp Le Romain ($4.20) by a short half-head with 1-1/4 lengths to Champagne Cuddles ($6) in the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup (1350m).
Impending won the Group One Stradbroke Handicap last year but was trained by Darren Beadman who was in charge of the Goldolphin team as an interim measure.
It was Cummings first Group one win for Godolphin in Brisbane and he is confident Impending can make it two by winning another Stradbroke in two weeks.
“I was very confident during the week because he had worked so well on Tuesday,” Cummings said.
“This was a perfect target race for him after winning the Victory Stakes here first up and then finishing second in the Doomben 10,000.
“Today suited him because it was weight-for-age but we will definitely look at the Stradbroke.
“He is going to stud in the spring and it would be the ideal way for him to out.”
Impending, who is by a Godolphin sire in Lonhro, will stand at Northwood Park in Victoria in the new breeding season
Jockey Damian Browne produced one of his trademark rides brining Impending through the field with a well-timed run.
Browne had won three Group One races for Godolphin when it raced under the Darley banner.
He was one of several riders in the big races on Saturday who had to sit out a 90 minutes wait while repairs were made to the Doomben track.
“It is always great to ride for the Godolphin team.
“I had a lovely run throughout but when the pace steadied coming to the corner I was in a tricky spot. But good horses overcome that.”
Le Romain led for much of the race and was only grabbed in the final 100m.
“He had a good kick straightening and gave me plenty of fight. He ran another super race but just found one a little bit too good at the end.”
Corey Brown said Champagne Cuddles did a great job after being caught deep early from a bad barrier.
“I had no choice but to go back from the barrier. She is a quality filly and she will win big races,” he said.
