Written by Paul Vettise
The well-travelled Gaulois (Street Cry {Ire}) again showed he was a toff on rain-affected going when he came with an irresistible finish to add the Listed Civics S. at Rosehill to his record.
The 4-year-old was given an ideal ride by Rachel King, who has developed a good association with trainer James Cummings, and when he cut loose in the straight there was no stopping the gelding.
“He’s got super wet form and Rachel let him bide his time and then got on the back of Star Reflection, which took him into the race,” Godolphin representative Darren Beadman said.
“She was patient from the 600 to the 400, which stood him in good stead for the last 200 metres.”
“She was patient from the 600 to the 400, which stood him in good stead for the last 200 metres.” – Darren Beadman.
That it did and Gaulois finished powerfully for the fifth win of his career and, with a previous win on the course, he has banked a cheque in all seven appearances at Rosehill.
The gelding’s last two starts had been at the Queensland winter carnival and from awkward draws he finished third at Doomben and fourth in the Listed Eye Liner S. at Ipswich.
“James took him over to Perth and he’s got some mileage in his legs and he didn’t have much luck in Brisbane,” Beadman said.
“It was a very deserving win and a good team effort.” – Darren Beadman.
“He had bad gates and was getting too far out of his ground and he did run home quite well in his last start in the Eye Liner. It was a very deserving win and a good team effort.”
Jockey Rachel King has developed a good association with Godolphin's James Cummings
Firsthand (Star Witness) jumped well and fought on gallantly for second in his first run in blinkers with a fresh New Tipperary (High Chaparral {Ire}) boxing on well to take third money from Deploy (Fastnet Rock), who made the play out in front.
Gaulois is an older half-brother to the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. winner La Tene (Helment) with their dam the G3 Birthday Card S. winner Celts (Lonhro).
Newcastle victory
The Cummings stable also enjoyed success at the Newcastle meeting where Lanigera (Denman) was heavily supported and the 2-year-old never gave his army of supporters any cause for concern.
Third in the G3 Chairman’s S. during the summer, he was in front at the top of the straight and stayed clear to win the Nelson Bay Plate by three and a-quarter lengths under Keegan Latham.
“He definitely enjoyed that step back in grade,” stable representative Josh Whittaker said. “We thought there would be more speed and he was just travelling too well for them.”
