With racing in lockdown across large chunks of the globe due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Godolphin are going strong and striking it rich in Australia.
Of the 174 races the royal blues have won across the world this year, 74 have been racked up Down Under.
It includes two of the three Group 1 prizes in Australia – the Australian Oaks with Colette and Bivouac taking the honours in the Newmarket Handicap.
Charlie Appleby's Barney Roy bagged the other Group 1 prize, winning the Jebel Hatta at Meydan on March 7.
On Saturday, Bivouac spearheads the Dubai racing operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in a 17-strong entry across three centres in Australia.
The three-year-old Exceed And Excel colt is bidding for his second Group 1 prize in the All-Aged Stakes at Randwick.
James Cummings, the Godolphin trainer who has won 71 of the 74 prizes in Australia is confident Bivouac to run a big race in a competitive field that has drawn the maximum allowed 14 runners.
“He’s the highest-rated sprinter I’ve been lucky enough to train and I don’t think we’re yet to see the best of him,” Cummings told the Godolphin website.
“This is a high-class race in which a win would bring him the credit he deserves. Bivouac has panels of talent and it has been fascinating to see him harness it and to watch him develop.
“He’s the genuine article and I’d be immensely happy to see him show it at weight-for-age in what is one of the best All-Aged Stakes fields we’ve seen in a quite some time.”
Hugh Bowman is in the saddle as Bivouac tackles opponents of the calibre of Pierata, Santa Ana Lane, Super Seth and Dreamforce, all winners at the highest level.
Cummings also has six entrees across three other Group 3 prizes at the same meeting.
Kementari, Trekking and Deprive challenge for the Hall Mark Stakes, Best Of Days in the JRA Plate and La Tene and Pin Sec in the JHB Carr Stakes.
Kementari (Bowman) and Trekking (Kerrin McEvoy) have credentials that would have given them claims in the All-Aged, so the drop in grade in the Hall Mark and the 1,200m trip should suit them admirably.
Deprive (James McDonald) also comes into calculations on the strength of his strong fourth behind I Am Excited in the Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill three weeks ago.
“I can’t see him running anything but a good race,” Cummings said of Kementari, the five-year-old Lonhro gelding.
“He’s come on since his first-up run, he’s trained well and he’s showing a great attitude.
“Trekking is better for his wet-track, first-up run and is very well-credentialled for this race and Deprive has had four weeks off since his fast-closing fourth in the Galaxy, and he looks a little richer for it.”
Best Of Days (Bowman), a failure on the heavy track in the Group 1 Doncaster, appears better suited over the extra distance and drier ground.
“He just needs to relax now that he goes out to 2,000m,” Cummings said while adding La Tene raced as though she may have needed freshening up at her last start.
“Pin Sec can only improve on her past few, and on top of the ground I think she can.”
At Morphettville, Cummings is double-handed with Home Of The Brave and Viridine in the Group 3 RN Erwin Stakes.
“I’m expecting Home Of The Brave to perform well in this race which has one of its best fields in many years,” Cummings said.
“Viridine is also first-up in the Irwin after winning a nice race in Melbourne in the spring and then going to Perth for a Group 1.”
