The James Cummings trained Impending added value to his future stud career by winning his second Group 1 trophy with victory in the Group 1 $700,000 Altus Traffic Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday.

Last year’s Stradbroke Handicap winner Impending, above, claimed his second G1 win in the 2018 Kingford-Smitrh Cup at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
Impending carried the famous Godolphin royal blue colours to a second Group 1 win during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival after taking out last year’s Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.
Winning jockey Damian Browne rode a patience race on Impending ($4.20 equal favourite) and bided his time in the straight before letting the Lonhro stallion power in between runners to nail the pace settter and equal favourite Le Romain in the shadows of the post.
“I’d loved the way Impending really attacked the line to win the Kingsford-Smith Cup and hopefully he can take that form to the Stradbroke,’’ Cummings told The Courier-Mail.
The Godolphin Team will probably give Impending the chance to score back to back wins in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 9 before deciding if the striking stallion will commence stud duties this breeding season or the next at Godolphin’s breeding operation at Darley.
Impending is on the second line of Stradbroke Handicap betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at $6.50 behind the three year old filly Champagne Cuddles who sits at the top of the market order at $5.50.
The Bjorn Baker trained Champagne Cuddles will have a distinct weight advantage over Impending in the Stradbroke Handicap and put herself in contention when she stepped up to weight for age for the first time with an eye catching third in the Kingsford-Smith Cup.
“I thought her run was excellent on Saturday,” Baker said.
“She looks well placed with that weight, so we just want to draw a gate now. I felt that was the difference between winning and losing the Kingsford Smith Cup.”
Early betting for 2018 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Champagne Cuddles, $6.50 Impending, $8.50 Care To Think, Le Romain, $10 In Her Time, Osburne Bulls, $12 Perast, $16 English, $18 Sambro, Santa Ana Lane, Spieth, $21 Crack Me Up, Danon Liberty, Invincible Gem, Land Of Plenty, Mr Sneaky, Peaceful State, Ulmann, $26 or better the rest.
2018 Kingsford-Smith Cup Results
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | IMPENDING | James Cummings | Damian Browne | – | 7 | 59kg | $4.20EF |
2 | 2 | LE ROMAIN | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 0.1L | 4 | 59kg | $4.20EF |
3 | 11 | CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES | Bjorn Baker | Corey Brown | 1.35L | 8 | 55kg | $6 |
4 | 9 | ENGLISH | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 1.75L | 1 | 57kg | $6 |
5 | 8 | ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 3L | 3 | 59kg | $9.50 |
6 | 10 | VOLPE VELOCE | Graham Richardson & Gavin Parker | Jake Bayliss | 3.2L | 6 | 57kg | $26 |
7 | 3 | CARE TO THINK | Matthew Dunn | James McDonald | 3.5L | 9 | 59kg | $9 |
8 | 6 | MONSIEUR GUSTAVE | Darryl Hansen | Jeff Lloyd | 13.5L | 5 | 59kg | $41 |
9 | 4 | MOST IMPORTANT | Tony Gollan | Jim Byrne | 15L | 2 | 59kg | $15 |