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Impending to bid for second G1 in Darley Classic

Mike Hedge

A summer campaign in Perth has emerged as a possibility for G1-winning sprinter Impending following a one-race, spring assignment at Flemington.

Impending is due to appear next in the G1 Darley Classic on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington with fellow G1 performer Hartnell a possible runner on the same program.

“We have the G1 Emirates Stakes as a possible race for Hartnell, but it will depend entirely on how happy we are with him,” said trainer James Cummings.

“He had a torrid run in the Caulfield Stakes a week ago and I want to see how he is over the next couple of weeks.

“At this stage, though, Impending will go to the Darley Classic on the final day at Flemington. We had thought of running in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley, but we feel that this fits in well with a possible Perth campaign.”

Among other immediate targets for the Godolphin team in Melbourne is the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day for the unbeaten colt Viridine.

Viridine took his record to four-from-four in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes last time out and will have a jump-out at Flemington on Friday ahead of the Coolmore, eight days later.

The G1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up Kementari could be freshened up to also run in the Coolmore. 

“He’s come out of the Guineas in good shape and we’ll see how he progresses, but he stays in training for now,” Cummings said.

The coming week will also determine Godolphin’s G1 VRC Derby prospects with the colts Astoria and Animalia due to run in the Listed Geelong Classic on Wednesday, 25 October and Sanctioned heading to the traditional Derby lead-up of the G2 Vase at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

“We may take Sanctioned to Moonee Valley for a gallop on Tuesday to give him a look at the track and we’ll make a decision on what happens next after the Vase,” the trainer said.

Other Godolphin entries for Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley include It’s Somewhat in the G2 Crystal Mile, Banish in the G2 P.W. Glass Fillies Classic, Trekking in the G3 Red Anchor Stakes and Demerara in the Listed Crockett Stakes.

Meanwhile, UK-based Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has confirmed that Folkswood will run in Australia’s premier weight-for-age event, the G1 Cox Plate, while a decision is still to be made on whether Qewy runs in the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on the same card, or the Listed Bendigo Cup on November 1.