Russeting gives Cummings a winter Group 1
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Michael Cahill returns to scale a Group 1 winner with Russeting (Noel Pascoe photo)
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From Toowoomba to Randwick and ultimately to the breeding barn was to be the life path of four-year-old mare Russeting and she added another milestone by winning the Group 1 Qld Breeders & Tattersall’s Winter Stakes 1400m on Saturday, June 20.
Russeting (M4 Commands-Granny Apple) was sold by owner Ron Croghan at the June Magic Millions Broodmare Sales for $300,000 to the Bell View Park Stud Syndicate.
From here she went to the legendary stables of Bart Cummings before picking up the Group 1 win in her first start for the trainer.
The mare had been in the care of Toowoomba trainer Donald Baker previously and had consistent form, including a win in the Listed Juanmo Quality.
From 23 starts, she has returned nine wins, two seconds and four thirds and amassed over half a millions dollars in prizemoney.
For the latest win, jockey Michael Cahill was onboard and guided the mare from barrier seven into a well-positioned spot.
They sprinted home in the last 200m and Russeting took a stranglehold on the race as they drew to the line and recorded a fine win.
“She began well from a good barrier and had the run of the race,” said Cahill.
“I was able to get out in time and I saved her until I had to and she let down good.
“She motored home.”
This was Cahill’s first feature winner since returning from riding in Singapore and he was pleased to pick up the win for the Cummings stable. He was the Queensland stable rider for their satellite set-up in Brisbane.
“I used to have first refusal of their horses here when Mr Cummings had his stable in Queensland,” said Cahill. “He and Reg Fleming, the foreman, have been long time supporters of mine. Often I’ve gone interstate they’ve provided me with a rider or two so it’s satisfying to win a big race for him.”
It was a Cummings quinella in the Winter Stakes as Bart’s son Anthony trained the three quarters of a length runner-up Prima Nova (Shane Scriven).
Subtle Cove (Peter Robl) enjoyed third place by a length.
Bart Cummings’ foreman Reg Fleming was on course for the win and he was always excited about what the mare could produce.
“The first time we galloped her I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I rang Bart and I said this is a machine. The gallop was unbelievable.
“I thought my clock was wrong and then I galloped it again and did the same thing again. It comes home and eats. It’s a bomb-proof horse and a great asset for us.”
Cahill agreed that the mare has great talent.
“She worked very well here on Tuesday,” he said. “We worked with the runner-up and there wasn’t anything between them in their work.
“In the short time I’ve been watching her run, before she came to Mr Cummings, she hasn’t run a bad race. She’s taken that extra step today.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 22
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