The margin was narrow but the performance all class as Golden Mile dug deep to edge out Communist and win the inaugural running of the $1 million Callander-Presnell at Randwick.
Winning jockey Hugh Bowman said he was always comfortable Golden Mile had the race in hand after he allowed the Godolphin colt to find his feet early before starting his run approaching the home turn.
Not even a shoulder charge from rival Basquiat on the corner could put Golden Mile ($2.30 fav) off his game, the Caulfield Guineas winner edging clear to deny Communist ($5.50), who was gallant in defeat.
A Lot More Love ($5.50), the only filly in the field, finished third another 2-1/4 lengths in arrears.
Bowman said Golden Mile showed his quality with his Group 1 Caulfield Guineas victory and he was rapt to get the ride on him in the Callander-Presnell after deciding to ride in Sydney once his Cox Plate mount, Top Ranked, was ruled out of the Melbourne feature.
“He showed what he’s capable of with a dominant win in what would appear to be a pretty strong Caulfield Guineas this year,” Bowman said.
“With the invention of this wonderful race, this Callander-Presnell race, it’s given James Cummings and the Godolphin team an option to come up here and race for huge prizemoney with what is already a very valuable colt.
“To get the opportunity to ride him is an honour and he didn’t let anybody down.”
Golden Mile and Basquiat came together on the corner when the latter became unbalanced, but Bowman said his horse was going so well it didn’t affect his momentum.
“I just felt Basquiat stepped into my line slightly but because my horse had plenty of gas left and because I hadn’t asked him for any effort at that stage, he was able to cope with that slight bit of bumping and balance up and win with some authority,” he said.
Deputising for trainer James Cummings, Darren Beadman said he left tactics to Bowman and felt Golden Mile reaffirmed he was a serious racehorse with Saturday’s win.
“He is a very fit, seasoned horse and he had come out of that Caulfield Guineas win in superb order,” Beadman said.
“He is a quality colt and certainly going places.”
Communist was brave in defeat and jockey Blake Shinn predicted a bright future.
“The winner was too good on the day but very promising horse going forward,” Shinn said.
