Godolphin doesn’t race on with many geldings, so it is an endorsement of Brigantine’s talent that he remains in the blue and in with trainer James Cummings.
The global breeding giant prefers the model of selling their geldings, rather than racing them, but when the choice is made to race on with one, Godolphin tends to get it right. Think of Everest placegetter Osborne Bulls, and Kementari, which features in the inaugural running of the Gold Rush in Perth on Saturday.
James Cummings had to freshen Brigantine up for Saturday’s Razor Sharp Stakes. Credit:Getty
Brigantine had shown enough to stay in the Godolphin blue with three stakes placings and gets his chance to start his black-type winning resume in the Razor Sharp Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, which is a slight change in plans for the Silver Eagle placegetter.
“We were looking at The Ingham with him, but a couple of weeks ago we had to readjust because it was pretty clear his rating wouldn’t get him into the race,” Godolphin trainer James Cummings said.
“Looking at it now, it was probably the right decision because he is very sharp, and a testing Randwick mile might have found him out. You have to remember he hasn’t won a stakes race yet.
“This is still a good quality sprint, and he will have to be at his best to be winning it. It’s a great opportunity for him, and everything he has done points to him running well.”
As a three-year-old, Brigantine was runner-up in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and Carbine Club Stakes and placed in the Stan Fox Stakes, but injury resulted in him missing the first half of 2022, when the decision was made to geld him.
“He didn’t really have the record to make it onto a stallion roster, but we thought he was above average, so we decided to give him the chance as a gelding for us,” Godolphin boss Vin Cox said.
“It gives us the chance to race on a son of Astern and show our bloodlines, which is good for the business.”
Brigantine returned in storming style in September at Randwick, where he has never missed a place in four runs, including two wins.
He was a game third behind Vilana in the Silver Eagle and has been freshened up since. He looked sharp winning a Hawkesbury barrier trial, running home in 33.92 seconds for his final 600m.
“He is in very good order and I think he is going to win a nice race in time, and the signs are positive going to 1200m fresh,” Cummings said.
Later in the afternoon, Godolphin will look to finish the Perth carnival by taking the inaugural running of $1.5 million group 3 Gold Rush (1400) with Kementari or Vilana.
“He looks to have got over the foot problem and it’s looking good for Saturday,” Cummings said of The Hunter winner Vilana.
“It has been frustrating since he got over missing the Winterbottom and then this problem, but he is a good shape and we are confident he will be there.
“Kementari hasn’t put a foot wrong since getting there and has been targeted for this race.”
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