James Cummings may need to win over Godolphin to keep training the promising colt Observer after their professional ties end on July 31. While Cummings is expected to continue conditioning some of the blue team’s stock, the colt’s breakout win at Sandown might spark interest in maintaining the relationship.
Observer impressed with a commanding five-length win in the Tile Importer Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday. Ridden by Mark Zahra and sent out the betting sites $1.50 favourite, the colt cruised home ahead of Godolphin stablemate Wentworth Falls ($3.10), trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, with Sky Deel ($17) a distant third.
Godolphin assistant trainer Nacim Dilmi, who oversees the Melbourne arm for Cummings, admitted to some pre-race nerves. “I don’t get nervous very often, but when they are $1.50 you hope they run like a $1.50 chance,” Dilmi said.
Those concerns quickly dissipated when Observer controlled the pace and had the race wrapped up 200 metres from home. “On what he’s shown at home, that’s pretty much what he’s like,” Dilmi said.
“We don’t have any partners that can keep up with him. He does things very easy. It’s good for the stallion (Ghaiyyath, a multiple Group 1 winner in Europe) to have his second winner in about 10 days, so it’s very promising.”
Dilmi praised Observer’s professional nature, noting the colt’s maturity. “At home he’s like a five-year-old gelding,” he said. “He does things so easy. He’s very kind and it’s good to have a horse like that in the yard.”
Future plans for Observer remain open, but a spring campaign appears likely. “We’ll see how he pulls up before deciding what we do, but we’ll speak to the team whether we send him out for a few weeks and bring him back for the spring,” Dilmi said.
“I’ll let James, and the guys decide, but I would think 1400 metres would be a suitable distance for now, but I’m looking forward to what he’s got next, because that was certainly an easy watch.”
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