Written by Paul Vettise
The Blue Army marched relentlessly on under the charge of James Cummings at Flemington on Saturday with a winning treble.
Their first winning shot was fired by the smart colt Ranier (Lonhro) in the G3 The Carbine Club S., before Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {IRE}) commandeered the G2 The TAB S.
Godolphin kept their Group 1 powder dry until later in the day when the aptly-named Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {IRE}) came out and bombed his rivals in the Kennedy Mile.
“It’s a huge team effort and to get a horse like this who's had a good, progressive preparation is really satisfying,” Cummings said. “He’s galloped better all this preparation.”
Best Of Days was originally on the ballot list, but gained back door entry through scratchings and he took full advantage of the opportunity under Craig Williams to down the 2016 winner Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}).
“He was an emergency at acceptance time, but we got in and full credit to Le Romain,” Cummings said.
“He looked outstanding and I really liked the way our horse savaged the line.” – James Cummings.
“He looked outstanding and I really liked the way our horse savaged the line. Craig rides a lot of our horses and we were confident through the week.
Best Of Days won two of his eight starts for Newmarket trainer Hugo Palmer, including the G2 Royal Lodge S, before he was sent to Australia.
He opened his spring campaign with success in a benchmark event at Randwick and placed twice before he shared victory in the G3 Coongy H., with Mask Of Time (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor {IRE}).
“I knew he wasn’t quite at his best for the Coongy and I regretted not putting the blinkers on,” Cummings said.
Headgear makes difference
The headgear went on for the Kennedy Mile and Best Of Days responded in the best possible way. He raced behind the leading bunch and once into the open he responded positively with a fine finishing burst.
“Craig produced a copybook ride. We talked about emulating the Shillelagh ride (in the Empire Rose S.), which worked out in the last 200 metres,” Cummings said.
Williams deflected much of the praise and talked up the quality of Best Of Days and his own support crew.
“All credit to this fellow. He’s raised the bar and I loved the way he ate up the line,” he said.
“I had the right horse and it’s a big thrill to win at headquarters.” - Craig Williams.
“I had the right horse and it’s a big thrill to win at headquarters. The Kennedy Mile is a famous mile race and a line-up of quality horse.
“I had to ride light (52kg) and it’s a big thank you to all my team around me.”
Le Romain’s trainer Kris Lees was justifiably proud of his 6-year-old’s brave effort to finish second.
“He’s such a consistent and honest horse and I knew that he would put himself in the race at some stage,” he said.
“I thought he would be a touch vulnerable to a lighter-weighted horse.”
