Kordia scores narrowly in Winning Edge

Jockey Blake Shinn rides Kordia to victory at Eagle Farm
Blake Shinn says the more he asked of Kordia, the more he gave him.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings believes the winter carnival could prove the making of Kordia.

The son of Epaulette won his first black type race on Saturday, scoring by a long neck in the Listed Winning Edge Presentations Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Starting the $2.80 favourite, Kordia overhauled Big Parade ($3.40) to win by a long neck with Snazz ‘n’ Charm a half head away third after being heavily backed from $10 in to $6.

“Queensland has the capacity to be a happy hunting ground for us. Whether it’s a late maturing two-year-old like he is or later three-year-olds, we’ve had the luxury of keeping them back for this carnival,” Cummings said.

Kordia has impressed Cummings with his progress, coming off a midweek win at Canterbury.

“When I think back to the start of the season and jockeys riding in barrier trials thinking which one they were going to ride, he wasn’t the one that jumped out at them despite showing us a lot at home,” Cummings said.

“He relished the 1400 metres and looks a very progressive two-year-old.”

Cummings wasn’t perturbed when Blake Shinn settled Kordia worse than midfield in the first half of the race.

“We were quite comfortable when Blake Shinn’s riding in the sort of form he’s riding in that he would take his medicine early, be sweating on the gap, and he did that beautifully with Kordia,” he said.

Cummings will spell Kordia before a return later next season.

“We’ll give him a lot of time out. You probably won’t see him for quite a few months but he’s a class horse and one to keep your eye on,” he said.

Cummings was also pleased to see Epaulette land another stakes winner.

“We’ve got a lot of young stallions on the roster and Epaulette is one of the horses that is starting to shoot the lights out and that’s great for us to see,” he said.

Shinn believes Kordia won’t be troubled by distances longer than 1400 metres in future.

“I think he’ll run a mile. The more I asked of him, the more he gave me,” he said.

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