Dad knows best

In a family affair, seniority won the day when Anthony Cummings produced Vegadaze (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to down his son James’ pair of Manicure (Exceed And Excel) and Kementari (Lonhro) in the G3 Star Kingdom S.

"It was just nice to see a good horse doing really well and nicer to beat two nice horses in the ones that James prepared and things are what they should be," Anthony Cummings said.

While Vegadaze was having the fifth run of his campaign, Manicure was first-up from a spell and Group 1 winner Kementari was racing for the first time in a year after a stud career was abandoned because of fertility issues.

"He's got great determination. We thought he's handled wet tracks before and last time the heavy track and the 1500 metres was just beyond him unfortunately,” Cummings said.

"Back within his comfort zone in terms of distance and on a testing track, finding out the first starters that was just a perfect recipe."

Doncaster ticket

Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) has booked himself a berth in the G1 Doncaster Mile with victory in the G3 Prelude at Rosehill.

The Godolphin runner has been luckless in recent starts and trainer James Cummings said he would wait to see how he came through the win before committing to the Doncaster.

"He has been blocked, blocked, blocked, all campaign and then he does that seven days out from the Doncaster," Cummings said.

"We pegged him as a Doncaster horse since he ran third in the G1 Cantala in the spring and it took until now for him to get there.

"There is no guarantee we will run him, but he is absolutely flying. I had a really good feeling he was coming to a peak this preparation. He was ready to run a big race."

Pretty watch

The racing style of Night’s Watch (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) doesn’t always help him, but things fell his way in the G3 Iron Jack Neville Sellwood S. to claim an overdue victory.

The 6-year-old settled near the tail of the field before he wound up strongly to drive between runners in the straight under James McDonald.

“It was a very smart ride by James, saving ground near the inner and they were strong to the liner,” trainer Chris Waller said. “The horse has been going well, but he’s not the best of beginners and gets back and that makes it hard.”

Golden effort

Veteran galloper Hellova Street (Helike {USA}) went all the way to win the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo off the front.

Hellova Street had been prepared by Scott Brunton in Tasmania before being left with the Victorian stable of Patrick Payne following his last-start third at Caulfield.

"He's very tough, he's honest, he tries hard and we were able to get a nice lead," rider Michael Dee said.

"Speaking to Patrick Payne before the races, he said just have him happy and I thought I was rolling along comfortably on a long rein, and then we were able to build momentum on that.”

Plum mount

Star filly Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) will have a new rider when she runs in next weekend’s G1 TJ Smith S. at Randwick.

Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, Craig Williams is unable to continue his association with the 3-year-old and Glenn Boss will take the reins on the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained representative.

Williams has ridden Loving Gaby in her last five starts, including Group 1 wins against the older horses in the William Reid S. and in the Manikato S.

Best to come

Mornington trainer Matt Laurie is confident there is more to come from his Listed Bendigo Guineas Riddle Me That (Deep Field).

Riddle Me That is now into his third racing preparation and Laurie said the gelding had made the step up each campaign.

"He is a smart horse and he has come back really well this preparation," he said. "We didn't draw so well last start, but he ran particularly well at Flemington and obviously we had another wide draw today which I was a little bit disappointed about.

"I was a great ride from Daniel (Stackhouse) and it is good to see him get a good win. I will have to look through the calendar and talk to the owners about what we do next.

"Obviously, everything has been thrown into disarray, but certainly this was a target and it is good to get it done."

Top jocks out

Leading riders Hugh Bowman and Tommy Berry both copped suspensions at Rosehill on Saturday.

Bowman was found guilty of not riding Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) to the line in the G1 Tancred S. and was banned from April 5 to 24.

Tommy Berry was found guilty of careless riding on Pink Beau (Brazen Beau) in the G3 Schweppervescnce and his suspension runs from April 5 to 14.

Lucrative debut

Swats That (Shamus Award) has cashed a sizeable cheque at the first time of asking with a debut success in the Smartline Bendigo VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo.

The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly was dominant in Saturday's sprint under the guidance of jockey John Allen, earning a first prize cheque of $137,500 with an additional $30,000 in Super VOBIS bonuses.

Leon Corstens said he thought Swats That would be ridden closer to the speed after the filly had led in her jump-outs at Flemington.

"You really like to see them race the way she did today whereas she went to the front and stayed there in her trials," Corstens said. "We'll go home, have a talk to Troy and the owners and we'll see where we head to next."

Solid hitout

The G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) has bettered his G1 VRC Oaks winning stablemate Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) in a 1600 metres gallop between races at Bendigo.

"It was a good opportunity to give them a gallop together over a mile," O'Brien told racing.com.

"They're going to race off decent enough breaks when they next go to the races so it was a good opportunity to give them a trip away and a good gallop on what is one of the better racing surfaces in Australia."

O'Brien has pencilled in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick on April 11 for Vow And Declare and is undecided whether Miami Bound heads to Sydney.

Desperate for Derby bid

Caloundra trainer Stuart Kendrick look at all options in a bid to get Eric The Eel (Olympic Glory {Ire}) to Sydney for the G1 Australian Derby after his win at Doomben.

The 3-year-old came from last to beat a field of experienced stayers in the Mount Franklin Open over 2200 metres.

Kendrick had planned to take Eric The Eel to Sydney for the G2 Tulloch S. at Rosehill, but was thwarted by travel restrictions due the coronavirus protocols, which made it almost impossible to get the gelding south in time.

"It has been a bit of a saga but we really want to give him his chance in a Derby and there is only one option now," Kendrick said. “I will see how he pulls up and then decide about getting him south.

“The way I see it we can travel him, but not me. It will probably mean switching him to a Sydney-based trainer.”

Patience pays off

Royal Celebration (Excelebration {Ire}) posted a long overdue win, his first since November 2018, when he claimed the thick end of the stake in the Ranvet H.

He has had issues in between times and trainer Ron Quinton said he had given the 4-year-old plenty of time.

“That’s his fourth win in town so he’s doing a good job. He’s a good, honest animal,” Quinton said.

Royal Celebration was caught three and four wide early before Sam Clipperton was able to get in closer and they came with a well-time run in the straight to win comfortably.

Rating justified

Trainer Robert Heathcote has always had a good opinion of Minjee (Not A Single Doubt) and she justified that with a strong win, the first for jockey Michael Cahill since his return from injury, in the TAB QTIS 2YO at Doomben.

"She isn't far off my top horse Rothfire and I have been telling everyone that for months," Heathcote said. "At her first start she had no luck at all after being caught very deep.

"I have said she is up there with my better 2-year-olds and she showed that today."

Heathcote had been considering a winter campaign for the filly but with the carnival scrapped because of coronavirus he will now look at the upcoming revised programs.

"Michael (Cahill) told me when he got off that Minjee is a stakes class filly," Heathcote. "I am very pleased to provide Michael with his first winner back."

Unsafe surface

Following a track inspection on Saturday morning, Racing New South Wales stewards deemed the surface at Port Macquarie as unsafe for racing following 22.5mls of rain in the previous 24 hours.

Transferring the meeting to Taree, Kempsey or Coffs Harbour was also considered, but that was ruled out with all three courses having also received significant rainfall.