With the sun reflecting off his rich chestnut colt, Godolphin’s magnificent warrior Cascadian (GB) motored home from last to run down the gallant front-runner Pride Of Jenni to go back-to-back in the $3,000,000 Group 1 Tab Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Ben Melham for James Cummings, the 9-year-old son of New Approach (IRE), had been building for a peak performance in this preparation, and he delivered.
The 6-year-old Pride Of Dubai mare Pride Of Jenni fell a long head short of adding a third Group 1 while the dual Group 1 winning Savabeel mare Atishu won the battle for third.
With his fourth Group 1, Cascadian advances his record to twelve wins, six seconds, and nine thirds from 53 starts with earnings of $10,641,275.
Stable representative Nacim Delmi said the striking chestnut holds a special place in the hearts of everyone at Godolphin.
“We knew tactics would obviously be tricky with Pride Of Jenni over the 2000-metres and Declan rode a great race,” Delmi said.
“The tempo suited him perfectly. When they came up to the top of the straight and he was travelling, we knew he was going to give it a good shake.
“Once he peeled out and Ben Melham timed it perfectly, it was great.
“He is easy to do anything with. He has been really fresh the last few days and we had to keep him as calm as possible,
“He came here today in great order and when we saddled him up and did the girth, he grabbed hold of the strapper’s arm and wouldn’t let go. We knew he was on song today.
“Back-to-back, it is unreal.
“He turned nine on Tuesday. He carries on like a young horse and still has so much racing in him. He’s just such a good horse to have in the stables. You’d love to have ten of him in the stables.”
Ben Melham said Cascadian relishes a battle.
“That’s the way he loves it. James and the Godolphin team have done a tremendous job with this horse,” he said.
“He ran really well the other day, like he did last year in the All-Star Mile and came out and won.
“I tell you what, if you could ever declare a horse on the way to the barrier, this is him.
“Couldn’t have been in better order which gave me the confidence to ride him like I wanted to.
“He loves pinching runs and sneaking around the place. He’s just too good for them.
“To see horses his age still beating the best horses in the land at this trip is phenomenal to see.
“Massive feat for him to win two in a row. Ride of the year, I reckon.”
Cascadian (GB) is a brother to the dual Listed winner Isle Of Jura and a half-brother to Albahr (Dubawi), winner of the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine.
The son of Epsom Derby hero New Approach is one of six winners from as many to race for the talented Street Cry (IRE) mare Falls Of Lora, whose four wins included the Group III UAE Oaks and the Listed Distaff Stakes at Sandown.
Falls Of Lora was one of four stakes-winners for Danehill's stakes-winning daughter Firth Of Lorne, runner-up in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
