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| Staff Writer |
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In a season marked by thrilling performances, Broadsiding was crowned Australia’s Champion Two-Year-Old for 2023-24 at the prestigious Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards in Adelaide. The ceremony, held at the Wolf Blass Event Centre at Morphettville racecourse, saw industry luminaries gather as James Cummings, Godolphin Australia’s head trainer, accepted the accolade on behalf of the rising star. This is Cummings’ second win in the category, having trained Microphone (Exceed And Excel) to similar honours in the 2018-19 season.
Debuting in a humble Ballarat maiden, Broadsiding (by Too Darn Hot) quickly proved his quality, capturing four Stakes wins in his first season on the track. His breakthrough came in the Listed Fernhill Stakes at Royal Randwick in April, where the colt asserted his dominance over 1,600m. A week later, he returned to Randwick for a sublime victory in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes, again over 1,600m, showcasing his versatility and stamina.
Trainer James Cummings was quick to praise the entire Godolphin team for their dedication to Broadsiding’s development, saying, "He's a special colt, and credit goes to the team behind him for their incredible work."
After a brief freshen-up, Broadsiding headed north to Brisbane, where he produced one of the season's standout performances in the Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm. Coming from the back of the field, he stormed home to snatch victory, a feat he replicated two weeks later with a dominant run in the Gr.1 J.J. Atkins Stakes, again over 1,600m. His Brisbane campaign underlined his status as a genuine star of the future, accumulating a total prize fund of US$1,944,675 from four wins and two placings.
Despite skipping both the Gr.1 Golden Slipper and the Gr.1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes earlier in the year, Broadsiding still solidified his reputation with these triumphs.
Previous winners of the Champion Two-Year-Old title have gone on to enjoy illustrious careers. Microphone, trained by James Cummings, followed his success in 2018-19 with a Group One win in the All Aged Stakes. Pierro, another past winner, became a Triple Crown champion and one of the country's top sires, while Vancouver, who claimed the award in 2014-15, remains remembered for his unbeaten juvenile season. Broadsiding now joins this elite company, with expectations high for further Group One glory in the future.
The 2024 season began in dazzling fashion for Broadsiding, with a fast-finishing victory in the Gr.1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on 28 September. This marked James Cummings’ 50th Group One victory, a milestone achievement that further cemented his place among the top trainers in Australian racing. Now, attention turns to Melbourne, where Broadsiding is the favourite for the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas over 1,600m this Saturday, a race that could propel him even further into the history books.
For Godolphin and Broadsiding, the sky is the limit, and racing fans will be eagerly awaiting his next steps as he transitions from a standout 2YO to a serious 3YO contender on the international stage.