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If turning the tables on Linebacker is what’s required to win Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick then trainer James Cummings says Broadsiding is capable of completing a double he knows plenty about.
James Cummings is the last to prepare a Fernhill winner to take out the Champagne, he did that back in 2016 with Prized Icon, and he's confident Broadsiding is a better horse than when he met Linebacker three weeks ago.
That was in the Group 3 Baillieu over 1400m and Broadsiding finished third behind one of the Champagne favourites but has since ticked the mile box with his runaway win in the Fernhill.
"I liked a slow build-up for Broadsiding to hit a new career peak in the Fernhill, he raced away from them in his first attempt at 1600m like a seasoned pro," Cummings said.
"That bodes well for him for a crack at the Champagne Stakes, he just relished the 1600m and recovered nicely from the race.
"He heads to the Champagne attempting to upset that A1 form of Manaal, who comes through all the right races.
"Even the impressive win of Linebacker in the Baillieu, he had the edge on Broadsiding that day.
"But you just can't help but think Broadsiding has improved from that run and he's going to turn up a better horse in the Champagne."
Broadsiding, $6.50 with TAB on Thursday, made light work of a tricky barrier in the Fernhill and James Mcdonald will again have to negotiate the right passage though the Champagne is lighter on numbers than last week's contest.
Cummings said the colt has come through that win like he could have gone around again on the same day.
"He was licking his lips after the Fernhill win and he's been licking the bin all week," he said.
"He's going to really add some interest to the Champagne this year, which is short on numbers but high on intrigue."
After avoiding the heavy track on Doncaster day, Cummings said Golden Mile comes into the Group 1 $1.5m Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) on some fresh legs and bringing what he feels is the right form line.
The four-year-old, who was placed in the Golden Eagle in the spring, produced his best run of the autumn when fourth in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) last month.
"He was very good in the George Ryder (fourth), and the form out of the George Ryder really held up in the Doncaster with the big effort of Militarize running third and Pericles improving on his unplaced run in the Ryder to finish second," Cummings said.
"I think that's going to stand him in good stead here going into this race with a bit of fresh exuberance here that some of his opposition lack.
