Viridine tackles open company in G2 Challenge Stakes at Randwick

Wins at each of his first four starts proved Viridine was among Godolphin’s best Australian three-year-olds.

The task confronting the colt as he resumes racing at Randwick on Saturday is to prove himself against older horses in the G2 Challenge Stakes.

And if Viridine (Brenton Avdulla) can run as well as trainer James Cummings believes he can, he has a G1 target ahead of him.

“The most important thing at this stage is that Viridine gets his chance to lift his reputation by competing against older horses at weight-for-age,” Cummings said.

“He trialed reasonably well last month and we feel he’s come on again in his fitness and his gallop this week was one of the strongest he’s produced in his career so far.

Viridine began his career with a narrow win in a two-year-old handicap at Rosehill last May that set the scene for a spectacular rise through the grades.

He won his next start by a slightly wider margin that was increased at each of his next two outings until he was put to the test in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in November, finishing fifth to Merchant Navy.

Against older opposition at Randwick he has some weight relief which is likely to be necessary against the likes of Redzel, winner of the A$10m The Everest and a close second at Flemington in the G1 Lightning Stakes when resuming two weeks ago.

Viridine must also contend with the classy filly English, the G1 winner Takedown and the wet-track specialist Jungle Edge.

“If he can produce a strong run here, then I really think he’s capable of being competitive at G1 level in the Galaxy in a fortnight,” he said.

Another of the stable’s better three-year-old sprinters, Jorda (Hugh Bowman), makes her return to racing at Randwick in the Listed Fireball Stakes.

“She has to pay the price for her stakes win in the spring,” Cummings said.

“She looks to have returned well and she’s gone ahead in her fitness since a barrier trial last month. But there’s still room for further improvement.”