The Godolphin homebred Broadsiding likely put a stamp on Champion 2yo honours following a bloodless victory in Saturday's Group 1 Ladbrokes JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Looking every inch a Cox Plate winner in the making, the son of Too Darn Hot (GB) cruised to the front at the 300m under little urging from James McDonald, who took a long look over his shoulder for any challengers before standing up in the irons for the final 50 metres.
The Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes and Group II BTC Sires' Produce Stakes winner defeated the Snitzel colt Bittercreek by four and a quarter lengths with the Blue Point (IRE) colt Bosustow a short-half-head back in third.
Broadsiding advances his record to four wins and two thirds from seven starts with earnings of $1,944,675.
"He’s such a good colt, so he certainly deserved his chance but great credit to the team who have managed through a big campaign,” winning trainer James Cummings said.
“The only real doubt throughout the week for some was a dry track or perhaps even a long prep but I’ve got such a good team that I’ve been able to keep fit and healthy, well, growing, and loving his training.
“He paraded like a thriving colt, and he got the big salute there from James McDonald. He sort of had that feel about perhaps being the best two-year-old in the country this season. He’s just been so good. He’s been a horse that has been able to keep improving and being by Too Darn Hot out of a Street Cry mare, he’s got his future well and truly assured on the roster at Darley.
“He’s what you love to look for in a two-year-old, and yet he’s got that dynamic motor, the way he cruised up into that race was effortless, and James just rode him like he was the best horse in the race - he was full of confidence in the horse.
“We haven’t had the best of luck earlier in the day and he said I’ll be getting out on this horse, and he just rode the horse magnificently, as Dominic Beirne did expect, this was not a fast race on paper, and Broadsiding has not been able to settle so close to the lead before but he’s never had such an advantageous barrier and James was so good that he was determined to get that good spot, he maneuvered the horse beautifully.”
“That big salute, that’s pretty special for a colt that I think deserves a lot of praise.”
James McDonald said Broadsiding has all the best attribures of a top horse.
“Champion two-year-old that one,” he said.
“I’ve had enough practices being in behind today , I thought I better let that one go. I thought we executed the gallop beautifully.
“He’s a ball of muscle. He knows he’s really good. He’s a character, but James (Cummings) has done a phenomenal job. I can’t stress how good a job he’s done, to be fair.
“He keeps raising the bar but he’s got a good colt on his hands. He’s special.
“He is a fair dinkum two-year-old and he will get stronger as he gets older. It is a pleasure to ride him.”
Broadsiding is the lone runner from two live foals from the Street Cry (IRE) mare Speedway who made 11 starts for three Godolphin trainers, John O'Shea, Darren Beadman and James Cummings. She won at Wyong and Newcastle and placed a further three times.
Sadly, Speedway had only two colt foals before her death in 2022.
Her half-sister Flit (Lonhro) won the Group 1 MRC One Thousand Guineas, Group II ATC Light Fingers Stake, and Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes, and her dam Glissade (Redoute's Choice) is a stakes-placed daughter of the Group III AJC Breeders' Classic winner Steflara (Zabeel).
Broadsiding has been the star turn for Darley Stud’s champion Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi), who is a lock to be champion first-season sire and has thrown out a challenge to Written Tycoon for Champion 2yo Sire honours.
