Godolphin look to hit the mark in Australia with Gaulois leading the charge

Three Grade 3 and a couple of Listed prizes on offer Down Under

Gaulois at the Bowness Stud Mile during the Sydney Racing in February. Getty Images

Godolphin will be looking to make the most of the limited racing opportunities available at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, the royal blues will be challenging for three Grade 3 and a couple of Listed prizes in two centres in Australia at Rosehill and Morphettville.

Gaulois is spearheading their challenge in the Grade 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup as he seeks his first success at the level.

Darren Beadman, assistant trainer to James Cummings, believes the switch from Hawkesbury to Rosehill could be the key for the five year old Street Cry gelding to win at the level.

“The move to Rosehill brings the race back from 1,600m to 1,500m which should be a help to him,” Beadman told the Godolphin website.

“He’s won at 1,600m, but at this level, the slightly shorter trip is in his favour,” he added of Gaulois who is returning to the track and trip after finishing third to stable companion Cascadian in the Grade 3 Doncaster Prelude in his last start on March 28.

Of the other Godolphin runners, Multaja under James McDonald is the other Godolphin runner seeking Grade 3 success at the same meeting in the Hawkesbury Crown.

“She’s a capable filly who was second in this race last year and who is very good fresh,” Beadman said of the Medaglia d'Oro filly who has had a success at the same level in the PJ Bell Stakes just over a year ago.

“Both her trials were very good and she comes to this in really good order,” Beadman added of his last two starts in Listed races when finishing fourth and second respectively.

Godolphin are triple handed in the Listed Hawksbury Gold Rush with Badajoz (Sam Clipperton), Soothing (McDonald) and Resin (Rachel King).

In Adelaide, Jerle (Dom Torneur) bids for his first Stakes win in the Grade 3 Breeders’ Stakes with Haunted to run in the 1,400m Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap with the same rider up.

Beadman said Jerle had shown in his past two runs that he is ready to graduate to Stakes company.

“The penny’s really dropped with this horse, he’s really started to find his rhythm,” he said.

“He came back to Sydney after doing his early racing in Melbourne and it’s taken a bit of time, but he showed last start that he’s getting it together.”

“He’s probably a better horse going left-handed, so Adelaide shouldn’t present any issues for him.”

Haunted has performed well at his two runs this preparation and has wins in good company in Melbourne to recommend him.