James Cummings and Godolphin have two final chances of leaving Perth with a Group One in the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot.
Six Godolphin horses travelled to Perth for the the summer carnival but so far they have yet to trouble the scorer.
They had three unplaced runners in last week’s feature sprint, the Winterbottom Stakes, while the previous week, November 23, Best Of Days was their best finish, running second in the Group One Railway Stakes.
Tally and Widespread were unplaced in their races that day.
On Saturday Best Of Days and Tally run in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m), with Widespread contesting the Listed Lee-Steere Classic (1400m).
Best Of Days steps beyond 1600m for the first time since dead-heating with Mask Of Time in the Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield in October 2018.
Following that win, Best Of Days was back to 1600m, winning the Group One Cantala Stakes at Flemington.
Winless since, Best Of Days has figured prominently and was a last-start half-length second to Regal Power, an opponent on Saturday, in the Railway Stakes.
“The challenge is for him to stay at the level at which he arrived in Perth and that he showed in the Railway,” Cummings said.
“At this stage, I can say he has maintained that form.
“I was in Perth last weekend and he showed me then that he was in very good order and the reports since have been good.
“He found one a bit better in the Railway but he’s better off under these conditions and we know he’ll cope with the extra distance.
“He’ll be a worthy competitor.”
After winning the Rosehill Cup (2000m) on November 2, Tally joined his Godolphin stablemates in Melbourne before flying to Perth ahead of finishing ninth in the Listed Carbine Club Stakes (1400m) on November 23.
Cummings is expecting an improved showing with the rise in distance.
“I expect him to be more comfortable over the 1800 metres than he was in the shorter race last start,” Cummings said.
“I’d say he will be at the most competitive level he could be in the Group One race.”
