Career High for Best Of Days

Mark Smith - Saturday November 3

Godolphin will be sad to see 2018 come to end.

The James Cummings-trained Best Of Days (GB) captured the Group 1 Kennedy Mile to give the worldwide superpower it's 29th Group 1 of the year and round out a successful Victoria Derby day at Flemington following his wins of Ranier and Osborne Bulls earlier in the day.

Settled three pairs back on the fence, Craig Williams found a narrow seam in the final 250 metres on the imported son of Azamour to defeat the admirable Le Romain by a half-length with Peaceful State back the same distance back in third. (photos Grant Courtney).


"Craig delivered a copybook ride, from admittedly a beautiful gate," Cummings said.

"We talked about trying to emulate the Shillelagh ride from earlier in the day, and he did that perfectly in the last 200 metres.

"He just savaged the line today like a good horse in form. He had that desire today and I'm just so proud of the horse.

"When the blinkers went on today it really counted. He paraded perfectly and he was fit and at his peak.

"It's a huge thrill for everybody."

Winner of the Group II Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket at two when trained by Hugo Palmer, Best of Days came into the Kennedy Mile off a win in the Group III Coongy Cup at Caulfield on October 20.

He is the first foal out of the German stakes-winner Baisse (High Chaparral) who is a sister to the Group III Gallinule Stakes winner Grand Ducal (Danehill Dancer) and Listed-placed Hurricane Floyd (Pennekamp).

Best Of Days (GB) becomes the fifth Group 1 winner for former Brighthill Farm shuttler Azamour who is also the sire of Group 1 MRC One Thousand Guineas heroine Aloisia.

The Aga Khan-bred son of Night Shift won the St James's Palace Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes as a three-year-old, before taking the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes as a four-year-old.

Azamour was euthanised Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in 2014 after suffering a serious leg injury.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
First SW for Azamour Mare
Matamata mare Polly Grey scored her biggest career victory when she stormed to a convincing victory in Saturday’s Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m).
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.