Latest News

By Ray Hickson

An impressive first-up win from almost a year off the scene has lightly raced Godolphin gelding Brigantine ready for a return to “Test Match footy” in Saturday’s $1m Silver Eagle (1300m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

Trainer James Cummings said on SEN the four-year-old has always shown talent and it was a big job to win three weeks ago off an 11 month break so he’s earned the right to step up in class.

He’s no stranger to it though with Group placings behind the likes of Hilal and Fangirl last spring on his record.

“He was an excellent three-year-old in the springtime and you saw him and what he was able to do on one preparation getting all the way to the Carbine Club and looming up against good opposition including Fangirl,’’ Cummings said.

“He’s been off the scene for a long time so full credit to my team to have the horse cherry ripe fresh up from a long time off.

“He was excellent late in the day at Randwick, from a three wide position he launched up the middle and returned in just as promising fashion as he left off.”

That first-up win is something Cummings is pleased Brigantine, $12 with TAB on Thursday, has on his side going into the Silver Eagle, partially because the race run on a soft 7 and Saturday’s contest will be on deeper ground.

He’s confident enough the horse is up to the class rise, the class rise and the ground is the question mark.

“Now he’s coming up against a few of the big guns, a big step up in class back into Test Match footy here, so hopefully he can make that progression,’’ he said.

“The conditions will be very testing so having a run under his belt will be an advantage.”

Two wins from three starts on heavy, including a Listed win at Randwick, holds stablemate Vilana in good stead for the Silver Eagle despite tackling the race first-up.

Cummings said the entire, already a Group 3 winner of the Fred Best in Brisbane, should not be undersold with that wet track prowess behind him.

“He can handle the ground and he gets a very minimal penalty for being a Group 3 winner,’’ he said.

“He can run a really good race, he should be able to improve and I wouldn’t put it past that horse to be right with the most competitive horses in the race.

“We’re feeling like we’ve got two chances here.”

It’s likely a decision will be made on race morning where promising three-year-old Selous lines up next with Cummings holding some reservations about the ground for the Group 2 $300,000 Polytrack Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).

Brigantine wins at Randwick on September 17

The colt produced a huge performance to win first-up at Goulburn over 1000m back on September 23, coming from near last on the turn to score untouched but that was on a good track.

“It’s fair enough to have concern because I ran that horse on a heavy track on debut and he faded from the furlong,’’ Cummings said.

“Admittedly at the time he’d only had two little lead ups on the synthetic track and he pulled up quite shin sore from the run.

“He was able to look like the most impressive horse that raced at Goulburn that day for sure. Is it ideal that he’s facing a Heavy 10, probably not.”

Cummings indicated the Blue Sapphire in Melbourne could be an alternative for Selous.

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