Fighting second for Sanctioned in Gloaming

The G1 Spring Champion Stakes remains the immediate mission for promising colt Sanctioned following his second placing in the G3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Sanctioned came into the Gloaming off two promising lead up runs and didn’t disappoint trainer James Cummings with an effort he said would improve the colt.

“His run was great, he threw down a challenge and the winner was a bit too good for him,” Cummings said.

“He’ll tighten up after that, he only needs to find a length to be very competitive.

“He beat the others by a big margin and I haven’t any hesitation going to the Spring Champion Stakes.”

The Gloaming went to Ace High who scored by a length-and-a-quarter from Sanctioned who loomed to win at the 250m. His stablemate Astoria finished fifth.

While the day’s major Australian prizes eluded the team, a pair of minor-race victories offered the promise of something better during the Spring.

The more impressive effort of the two came from Bandipur who won the Fight Cancer Foundation plate at Caulfield after racing five-wide for the entire race.

“I wasn’t that surprised by what he showed today,” Cummings said.

“We’ve got a big opinion of the colt and he ran right up to it.”

Another performance that suggested a Stakes success could be in store came from Beau Geste in the Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Handicap at Rosehill.

Another of the stable’s classy crop of three-year-olds, Beau Geste showed great tenacity to score by a half neck from Our Mantra.

Cummings is looking at a number of Stakes options for Beau Geste who he regards as a colt of superior talent.

“There will be a good race for him during the coming weeks. I think he proved today he was capable of taking another step up,” he said.