Avilius completes a big day for Godolphin
Lock, stock and barrel: a win by Avilius (left) capped a Godolphin day at Caufield.
James Cummings-trained Avilius has completed a successful day out at Caufiled for the Blue Army by winning the Peter Young Stakes.
The imported French galloper’s victory in Saturday’s Group Two race came on top of a Group One double for global racing giant Godolphin.
Cummings trained Alizee to win the Futurity Stakes while Anthony Freedman took out the day’s feature, the Blue Diamond Stakes with Lyre.
Avilius is being aimed at the Group One Australian Cup at Flemington for which he’s now the $2.50 favourite, firming from $2.80 after Saturday’s victory.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Avilius was sent off the $1.95 favourite and scored by 1-1/2 lengths from Trap For Fools ($15) with Ace High ($31) a long-neck away third.
After his arrival from France, Avilus was successful at his first four starts and progressed in his first Australian campaign to run in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Cummings is planning a short autumn carnival which may be curtailed after he runs Avilius in the Australian Cup.
“That was his first weight-for-age win in Australia,” he said. “I thought it was extremely impressive the way he did it.
“He enjoyed the firm track and the pace throughout. He settled a little closer and still performed well late.
“The Australian Cup in a couple of weeks looks ideal and we’d love to see him in the same form in two weeks time.
“I am attracted to the prospects of a light autumn with him as he’s a beautiful horse; he’s clean winded, so we’ll just keep him happy.”
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