Damien Oliver steers Cascadian home in Peter Young Stakes
The James Cummings-trained Cascadian has taken out the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Godolphin galloper was second-up for the event after his third-placed effort in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) last start.
The odds-on favourite was given a lovely ride by jockey Damian Oliver who won this race for a record sixth time.
Oliver had the gelding third on the fence in the early part of the race, before finding clear galloping room and urged the seven-year-old passed the Chris Waller-trained Yonkers to score by half a length.
Oliver looked to be in a slightly awkward position on the race-favourite, but Godolphin stable representative Sean Keough didn’t mind the nervous watch.
“Look, I think when you come to race on a Saturday, if you don’t have any nervous moments, you’re in the wrong caper,” Keough told Racing.com.
“With that said, Olly got him in a lovely spot.”
Keough was confident with the gelding going forward this preparation, which could include a tilt at the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12.
“There’s plenty more for this horse throughout his preparation.”
Oliver was conscious of the on-pace track bias that the previous races on the card had shown.
“He’s not the most brilliant gate horse, and I know that,” he stated.
“I wanted to be a little bit positive, but I didn’t want to take him out of his comfort zone.
“I thought I’d end up in the box-seat where I did, and then it was just a matter of getting out when I needed to.
“I was just relying on a little bit of luck.
“Once I was able to fade across their heels and get into the clear, I was quietly confident and he quickened nicely.”
Oliver was also optimistic about this preparation for the seven-year-old, who hadn’t won a race since last year’s Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
“He’s always been a really consistent performer. Often he can just find one better.”
“I think he’s a genuine horse. To me that was the best he’s felt to me there today.”
Cascadian is currently a $7 chance to take out this year’s Group 1 Australian Cup.