Cummings has Missile bases covered with class and fitness
By Chris Roots
Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile brings a class factor to the Missile Stakes, but Godolphin trainer James Cummings points out that history might be on the side of his race-fit stablemate Ingratiating at Rosehill on Saturday.
The group 2 sprint moved to set weights and penalties conditions three years ago, and since then runners carrying a group 1 penalty have struggled and the winners have been a run or two in their preparation.
James Cummings and James McDonald with Golden Mile after winning the Caulfield Guineas last year.Credit: Getty
“In terms of what has happened in the past couple of years, Ingratiating might be our better chance having had the advantage of two runs and winning the Bletchingly Stakes in Melbourne last time,” Cummings observed.
“He is going really well and it’s a good opportunity for Zac [Lloyd] to win a group 2 for us. Both horse and rider are in form.
“But we are very happy with Golden Mile as well but he has that group 1 penalty which makes it a big task.”
Golden Mile at $7 and Ingratiating at $8 have been kept safe in the betting behind first-up flyers Big Parade and I Am Me.
Cummings was mindful of the group 1 racing to come when he got Golden Mile up and going for the Missile.
“He has been bouncing around in the paddock, and, when we put him into work, he came to hand quickly,” Cummings said. “He has always been a bit casual, so I wanted him to have a run before he heads to the Winx Stakes or Memsie Stakes.
“He has something to prove after his last preparation, which was below par. He won two mile races last spring, including a Caulfield Guineas, so you would think he is a miler, but he could be sharper than that.”
The race probably sets up well for the strength of Golden Mile, which has a win and two seconds from three first-up runs, given that speedsters Big Parade and I Am Me are likely to set up a fast tempo.
James McDonald will probably be midfield on Golden Mile and be finishing quickly, but he will have to be at his best to get home over the top of the two favourites.
Big Parade is the $2.80 favourite in his first run for more than a year and first for new trainer Joe Pride, but he showed he was ready with a 21-length barrier trial romp recently.
I Am Me, which is rated a $3.30 chance from the rails alley, gets in on the limit weight as she is without a group success in her career, but co-trainer Ciaron Maher is confident she is ready to fly.
“She has a great fresh record, prepped up well, looks fantastic and has drawn perfect,” Maher said. “She has a great record [winning seven of 13] and she is really very genuine.
“She makes her own luck and generally runs pretty slick times, and she has the ability to do it at both ends as well.”
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