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By Ray Hickson

If turning the tables on Linebacker is what’s required to win Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick then trainer James Cummings says Broadsiding is capable of completing a double he knows plenty about.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Cummings is the last to prepare a Fernhill winner to take out the Champagne, he did that back in 2016 with Prized Icon, and he’s confident Broadsiding is a better horse than when he met Linebacker three weeks ago.

That was in the Group 3 Baillieu over 1400m and Broadsiding finished third behind one of the Champagne favourites but has since ticked the mile box with his runaway win in the Fernhill.

“I liked a slow build-up for Broadsiding to hit a new career peak in the Fernhill, he raced away from them in his first attempt at 1600m like a seasoned pro,” Cummings said.

“That bodes well for him for a crack at the Champagne Stakes, he just relished the 1600m and recovered nicely from the race.

“He heads to the Champagne attempting to upset that A1 form of Manaal, who comes through all the right races.

“Even the impressive win of Linebacker in the Baillieu, he had the edge on Broadsiding that day.

“But you just can’t help but think Broadsiding has improved from that run and he’s going to turn up a better horse in the Champagne.”

Broadsiding, $6.50 with TAB on Thursday, made light work of a tricky barrier in the Fernhill and James McDonald will again have to negotiate the right passage though the Champagne is lighter on numbers than last week’s contest.

Cummings said the colt has come through that win like he could have gone around again on the same day.

“He was licking his lips after the Fernhill win and he’s been licking the bin all week,” he said.

“He’s going to really add some interest to the Champagne this year, which is short on numbers but high on intrigue.”

After avoiding the heavy track on Doncaster day, Cummings said Golden Mile comes into the Group 1 $1.5m Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) on some fresh legs and bringing what he feels is the right form line.

The four-year-old, who was placed in the Golden Eagle in the spring, produced his best run of the autumn when fourth in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) last month.

“He was very good in the George Ryder (fourth), and the form out of the George Ryder really held up in the Doncaster with the big effort of Militarize running third and Pericles improving on his unplaced run in the Ryder to finish second,” Cummings said.

“I think that’s going to stand him in good stead here going into this race with a bit of fresh exuberance here that some of his opposition lack.

Broadsiding wins the Fernhill on April 13

“I just wish he had a softer draw (13), but nevertheless Golden Mile does have good gate speed to put himself into the race and use that natural strength that he’s got.

“A good miler’s strength over the 1400m at Randwick is advantageous.”

James Cummings on Aft Cabin (race 5): “The real dyed-in-the wool fans of Aft Cabin should be forgiving of his last two runs. Just keep going back to his first run, it was too good to ignore. The Hall Mark is the right race for the horse after two runs not having gone right for him since the Challenge. He’s got an opportunity to get back into the winner’s stall, but it’s not an easy race by any means. He’s got to overcome Front Page, an outstanding third in the Galaxy beaten less than a length.”

On Vilana (race 5): “Vilana might be the horse that’s in the way of Aft Cabin bouncing back into the winner’s circle. He’s been gelded, has himself put back into the game. He’s training well, his trials have been solid and I like the choice of race for him. I think he’s capable of winning the race first-up, he’s done so before.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting