Aramayo chasing Derby win for Godolphin

Aramayo.
Aramayo will be attempting to end a run of Godolphin near-misses in the Victoria Derby.

James Cummings has already etched his name into the history book of Australia’s oldest Classic race as a fourth generation Victoria Derby-winning trainer.

On Saturday Cummings saddles up Aramayo, striving to win the Derby for a second time.

Only this time he is doing so as a private trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s global racing operation which has had a series of near-misses in the race in the past decade.

Two years ago while he was still a public trainer, Cummings prepared Prized Icon to win the 2500m staying test for three-year-olds at Flemington.

By doing so Cummings joined his father Anthony, grandfather Bart and great grandfather Jim on the trainers’ honour roll for the race.

In his first spring carnival as the Australian trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin last year, Cummings had Astoria finish third in the famous royal blue silks to Ace High in the Derby.

That followed five previous placings for horses carrying the Darley or Godolphin colours in the race since 2010.

“I’d be very excited to see Aramayo try to lift the homebred curse of Darley horses not being able to win a Victoria Derby yet,” Cummings said.

“The team have gone close a few times. We ran third in the race last year and there have been a number of placegetters.

“But it would be great to see the Godolphin colours win a Derby here, fresh off this season winning the Epsom Derby with Masar.”

The Charlie Appleby-trained Masar gave Godolphin its first Epsom Derby in England this year.

As a Spring Champion Stakes runner-up in Sydney and Vase minor placegetter at Moonee Valley last Saturday, Aramayo takes good credentials into Saturday’s $2 million race and is second favourite behind Thinkin’ Big.

“Aramayo’s not a fully mature horse yet but he’s in great order coming out of the run in the Vase,” Cummings said.

“He covered 14 more metres than the winner but he had to to put himself in the race and for that reason he had a solid hit-out.

“I don’t think there will be any more fitness to squeeze out of Aramayo in the lead-up to the weekend and getting back on the big track you can’t help but feel he’s going to be better suited.”

DARLEY/GODOLPHIN VICTORIA DERBY PLACEGETTERS

2017 Victoria Derby: Astoria 3rd (trainer James Cummings)

2015 Victoria Derby: Etymology 2nd (John O’Shea)

2014 Victoria Derby: Nozomi 2nd (Anthony Freedman)

2013 Victoria Derby: Complacent 2nd (Peter Snowden)

2011 Victoria Derby: Induna 2nd (Peter Snowden)

2010 Victoria Derby: Retrieve 3rd (Peter Snowden)

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