If Godolphin was looking for an omen for Bivouac in Saturday’s $15,000,000 TAB The Everest at Royal Randwick, they found it with Bivouac’s older brother Coruscate, who claimed Wednesday’s Listed Neds Village Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield with the minimum of fuss.
The James Cummings-trained 6yo gelding is racing in rare form. Coming off a win in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield on September 26, the son of Exceed And Excel had his job made easier with the scratching of the well-fancied Sansom at the barrier.
Caught in a tricky spot three back on the rails, Damien Oliver extracted Coruscate into clear running down the straight. He kept up a strong galloper to defeat Excess Funds (Rubick) by a length with William Thomas (Nicconi) a half-neck back in third.
A homebred for Godolphin, Coruscate advances his record to eight wins, four seconds and four thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $556,350.
“There was a little more speed than I anticipated. It got a little awkward mid-race, but he was always travelling well and just eased him out into the clear, it was a comfortable win,” Oliver said.
“He has a great nature, a real professional and a dream to ride, which makes the job a lot easier. He is a full-proof horse, and those sort of horses make their own luck, he is improving and heading in the right direction.”
A brother to the Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap and Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner Bivouac, Coruscatae is the first foal of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Dazzler, who is a half-sister to Champion 3YO Filly Guelph (dam of Group II winner Encryption), and the Group II ATC Todman Stakes winner Ghibellines.
Dazzler’s dam, the Group 1 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes heroine Camarilla (Elusive Quality) is a daughter of Danehill’s Group 1 QTC Queensland Derby winner Camarena, a sister to the dam of Champion Sepoy.
Dazzler has a Medaglia d’Oro (USA) two-year-old filly named Glittery, a Lonhro yearling colt, and foaled a full-sister to Bivouac and Coruscate on September 19.
