Impending Win

[Wandering Eyes]

Successful in the 1350-metre G1 Stradbroke H. a little over 12 months earlier, Godolphin’s Impending (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) looks right on track to add another elite level score in Saturday’s G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup to his record before he heads to the stallion barn at the end of the racing season. First-up this campaign he captured the G2 Victory S. before closing late for a narrow second in the G1 Doomben 10,000 over 1200m. The extra trip on Saturday will be right down his alley and from barrier nine he should settle rearward and come with a late challenge in the home straight.

Scorching along the inside rail last time out to hold off the late charge of Impending was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and from barrier one again here, jockey Tim Clark should find himself in a similar position to play a role in the finish.

With form around some of the best of her age group and having never finished outside of the top three, the Bjorn Baker-trained Champagne Cuddles (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) comes into the race as a slightly unknown commodity, but her authoritative performance in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas must give her a show here with 55 kilos on her back.

Travelling wide when taking third behind English and Impending in the 10,000, Le Romain (Aus) (Hard Spun), from a mid-field barrier on Saturday, will see jockey Glyn Schofield likely to settle in a forward position where the Kris Lees-trained runner will show plenty of fight when it matters.

Unbeaten at the track and distance, Matt Dunn’s 4-year-old Care To Think (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) settled in second last position in the 10,000, and although making up considerable ground to finish just over two lengths from the winner in sixth, jockey Jeff Lloyd didn’t knock him around, and with James McDonald back for his first Group 1 ride since his return to the saddle, he will be gunning for forward showing.

Having her first start outside of New Zealand, 4-year-old Group 1-winning mare Volpe Veloce (Aus) (Foxwedge {Aus}) will tackle a class field in her first Brisbane race, and although was somewhat disappointing when beaten over two lengths into second when racing first-up, the 10-time winner has a rough show.

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