Gelded Golden Mile ‘flying’ ahead of return in the Liverpool City Cup

James Cummings and Godolphin may have hoped Golden Mile would make his mark in the breeding barn, but the gelding remains an important figure within their team.

The son of Astern will take the next step in his racing career this Saturday in the $250,000 Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick.

Golden Mile, a winner of the 2022 Caulfield Guineas, briefly stood at Sheikh Mohammed’s Northwood Park in Victoria at a fee of $16,500 but was retired from stud duty and gelded after suffering an injury following 14 mares covered.

He joins a select group of Group 1 Guineas winners, such as Kementari, who returned to racing after a short stint at stud. Cummings is eager to see how Golden Mile performs this weekend.

“We’d be thrilled to see him convert on what he’s been showing us on the track over the past couple of months,” Cummings said.

The Liverpool City Cup will be Golden Mile’s first appearance since his third-place finish in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 4, 2023. He has won five races and earned more than $4.3 million in his career.

Golden Mile will carry 58.5kg, with Adam Hyeronimus aboard, and will start from barrier six in the Liverpool City Cup. He is currently priced at $11 with betting apps.

Golden Mile’s preparation included a quiet trial before an impressive win over 900m at Warwick Farm on February 11.

“The horse has been flying and feeling good,” said Cummings.

“No one has a higher opinion of Golden Mile’s progress at Osborne Park than Golden Mile himself,” Cummings quipped.

“I love the way he’s been trialling from one trial to the next,” he added.

Alongside Golden Mile, Cummings will have Snitzel two-year-old Comedy at Randwick in the Group 3 Skyline Stakes, a key race leading toward the Golden Slipper on March 22.

“I just love Comedy stretching out in distance, he’ll eat up the ground,” Cummings said.

“Three weeks could be a crucial period for him to be a real contender in the Golden Slipper,” he continued.

“He’s been doing everything to suggest he’d be competitive in the Skyline Stakes,” Cummings added.

Comedy will be ridden by Josh Parr, who will guide him from barrier seven, and is expected to be a strong challenger to the undefeated favourite Shaggy, who has won all three of his races so far.