In Friday's Straight Shorts - Edward Cummings has promised to continue his family association with Leilani Lodge, the VRC insists it is in the hunt for the Cox Plate in 2026, Sodashi's first foal plus all the breaking news from throughout the day.

Edward Cummings
Edward Cummings insists his family connection with Leilani Lodge at Randwick will continue. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Edward Cummings vows to retain family association with Leilani Lodge

Edward Cummings has promised to continue his family association with Leilani Lodge, vowing to take over the facility from his father Anthony, whose licence is set to be revoked by Racing NSW.

Anthony Cummings confirmed this week that Racing NSW had issued a Show Cause notice over his financial troubles and had been given seven days’ notice to depart Leilani Lodge at Randwick. He has appealed the decision.

Edward Cummings took to social media platform X to put forward his commitment to retaining the long association this family has with Leilani Lodge, which was set-up under his famous grandfather Bart.

“Since August 23 last year my company Myrtle House has been running the business operations at Leilani Lodge. Myrtle House is solvent and completely unrelated to my father's previously liquidated company, Rosscarbery Holdings. I still hold a license with Racing NSW,” he said.

“The horses previously under my care have been in training at Leilani Lodge since October 1 last year under my Father's license. It is my intention to apply for stabling at Leilani Lodge, where my father, brother and grandfather have trained previously for the last 50 years.

“My record at Hawkesbury, and the record we have improved at Leilani Lodge, shows we can handle the challenge and thrive into the future. Myrtle House Stables has a long and happy future ahead of it and I sincerely hope it is from Leilani Lodge. Bart would be happy with that.”

Rogers insists the Cox Plate could fit for Flemington

VRC CEO Kylie Rogers says the club's bid to host the Cox Plate at Flemington in 2026 remains alive.

"We were never out of the race," she told SEN Track's Giddy Up with Gareth Hall.

"Don't write us off. We would be comfortable to run it in its usual slot and we continue to have those conversations."

First foal for white wonder Sodashi 

Multiple Group 1 winning Japanese star Sodashi has delivered her first foal, a filly by Equinox.

Owner/breeder Kaneko Makoto Holdings posted on X that Sodashi, the famously white champion mare, delivered her first foal, a bay filly, on January 31.

Sodashi, trained by Naosuke Sugai, won the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, and the G1 Victoria Mile throughout a decorated career.

Autumn abandoned for injured O' Ole, Blitzburg

Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner O’ Ole has been ruled out of the autumn carnival.

The Bjorn Baker-trained filly, who has banked $1.9 million in five starts as an early season two-year-old, was underwhelming in a Randwick barrier trial on Thursday ahead of a planned tilt at the Group 1 Blue Diamond.

A subsequent veterinary examination of O’ Ole revealed that the daughter of first season sire Ole Kirk had suffered an injury to her left fore fetlock which required surgery. Baker informed Racing NSW stewards of the filly's setback, prompting her withdrawal from pre-post feature betting markets.

The Blue Diamond campaign of rival Sydney-trained two-year-old Blitzburg, a last-start winner of the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill, has also been derailed due to a setback.

Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou reported to stewards that the Snitzel colt required surgery to have a small bone chip removed from his near fore fetlock and that he would be spelled.

Australian Guineas possible target for Captured By Love

New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Captured By Love will be tested in Australian company for the first time, with Te Akau trainer Mark Walker hoping the filly can measure up to an Australian Guineas campaign.

The Written Tycoon filly will have her first Victorian start in Saturday’s Listed Desirable Stakes at Flemington and if she runs well she could take on the colts and geldings in the Australian Guineas a fortnight later. 

Captured By Love was unplaced on a wet track at Ellerslie last month in the Group 1 Railway at her first run since the Guineas at Riccarton.

“She travelled over and settled in well,” Walker said. “It has come up a pretty strong field, the (MRC) Thousand Guineas winner (Another Prophet) is in it and (Too Darn Discreet) is a pretty good horse as well.

“It is never a walk in the park over there, that’s for sure, and it won’t be on Saturday either. But she is in good form and we are hopeful.”

Meanwhile, last Saturday’s Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes winner El Vencedor, is set for a trip to Hong Kong after connections of the Stephen Marsh-trained gelding accepted an invitation to run in the QEII Cup at Sha Tin on April 27.

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