“That is an important race for us”: Cummings sets pathways for star Godolphin colts

James Cummings has outlined the pathways forward for Godolphin’s star colts Traffic Warden and Broadsiding.

Saturday’s Golden Rose quinella have key targets ahead this spring with Cummings highlighting the races they have been set for.

Traffic Warden has been unlucky in his quest for a maiden Group 1, running narrow seconds in both the Golden Rose on the weekend and the Sires’ Produce in April, while also running a bottler when fourth in the Golden Slipper in March.

The son of Street Boss looks more likely to head to the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 2 rather than become Godolphin’s Everest pick for the lucrative sprint at Randwick on October 19.

“I don’t think we need to be in a rush, exactly,” Cummings sad on SENTrack’s Giddy Up.

“We’ve got at least two weeks to make a call on it. We get the luxury of just observing how well Traffic Warden comes through that big effort and ensuring that we have full faith that if he does appear in The Everest then he’s still going to have bullets to fire in the Coolmore.

“I do feel like he’s our Coolmore horse. That is an important race for us to be represented by a colt like Traffic Warden. We would absolutely love to have a Group 1 next to his name, but they take some winning.

“Place getters turn into winners and he’s got two massive Group 1 placings to his name over seven furlongs (1400m) and a huge effort for fourth in the Golden Slipper.

“You’ve got to feel like he’s a threat to be one of the next Group 1 winners for us.”

Cummings admitted that Godolphin may have to look elsewhere to fill their Everest slot if they do not settle on Traffic Warden.

“I think we might need to,” he said.

“The bottom line for us will come down to the question of what’s the best thing for Traffic Warden. So far he has pulled up very well.”

Golden Rose winner Broadsiding has the weight-for-age Cox Plate (October 26 at The Valley) on his agenda after claiming Cummings’ 50th Group 1 on the weekend.

But prior to his Grand Final there is a key race for the Too Darn Hot progeny.

Is he a lock for the Caulfield Guineas on October 12 to clash with his fellow three-year-olds or the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on October 19 to take on the likes of Pride Of Jenni and Fangirl?

“It would be outstanding,” Cummings said.

“I think it (the King Charles) is a top race. I do feel like both horses (Pride Of Jenni and Fangirl) are going to be peaking for a race like the King Charles.

“It’s just a week before the Cox Plate and a week after the Caulfield Guineas. As much as it’s an interesting option, I think this year the more likely play is we give Broadsiding the opportunity to tackle his own age one more time.

“There’s a limit to how many times young horses should be exposed to weight-for-age at this stage. I’m conscious of that limit.”

Broadsiding is already the hot favourite for the Guineas with Sportsbet having him as short as $1.85. Traffic Warden is the third favourite for that race at $8.

The Cox Plate market has Broadsiding at $6 behind Prognosis ($4) and Pride Of Jenni ($4.50).

Traffic Warden is $11 for The Everest and $6.50 second favourite for the Coolmore.

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