VRC Ambassador Amanda Ross takes on Group 1 winner Cascadian for equestrian career

Video courtesy of Godolphin

Trained by James Cummings, Cascadian won the last two editions of the Group 1 TAB Australian Cup at Flemington, including earlier this year when he beat current darling of the turf Pride of Jenni. He also won the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.

Bred by Godolphin in the UK, Cascadian now represents Godolphin as a Flagbearer of the Godolphin Lifetime Care program, which aims to create greater awareness, passion and care for the thoroughbred breed whilst supporting Godolphin-owned thoroughbred horses as they transition from racing to a second career.

Amanda Ross is one of Victoria’s best known equestrian riders, having represented Australia at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 on Off The Track thoroughbred Otto Schumacher in the equestrian sport of eventing and been short listed for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 on another Off The Track thoroughbred, Koko Popping Candy.

Amanda has been an ambassador for the VRC since 2020, a role that sees her embrace her passion for the thoroughbred both on and off the track. She is a regular attendee at Flemington race days including the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and attends the major equestrian events across Australia, where she has presented the prizes for Best Performed Thoroughbred on behalf of the VRC. The VRC has recently extended the contract with Amanda for the 2024-25 season.

Cascadian has already impressed Amanda with his athleticism, soundness and character.

“Cascadian is the ultimate equine athlete. He is incredibly flexible and has very extravagant movement, which is rare to see in any horse, let alone a three-time Group 1 winner who raced until he was nine,” Amanda said.

“He is a credit to Godolphin and the entire team who have taken such great care of him throughout his life. I actually got to meet his strapper Camille at the recent Flemington Stable Tour and we both enjoyed trading stories about him and his quirks.

“Cascadian has the temperament of a champion – he takes everything in his stride and is adapting so well to his new role. Nothing fazes him and I am extremely excited to get him out competing in equestrian events next year.

“In our sport, many of the best horses are still peaking into their late teenage years, so there is plenty of time for Cascadian to make his mark in equestrian in the same way that he did on the track.”

Head trainer for Godolphin in Australia, James Cummings said he was thrilled to see Cascadian taking to his new role so easily.

“Cascadian was a wonderful horse to have in the team as a racehorse, very athletic physically with a laidback temperament that made him easy to train, and he was able to perform at an incredibly high level for an extended period of time.

“We were sad to see him leave the stable but the arrangement with Amanda through the Godolphin Lifetime Care program means he will have every opportunity for a happy and successful career in equestrian sport, and we look forward to following them.”

VRC Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers said she was delighted by the new partnership between Amanda and Cascadian.

“I am enjoying the opportunity to learn about the many options available for racehorses once they have finished their racing careers, and the Godolphin Lifetime Care program is such a perfect example of this,” Ms Rogers said.

“It is a great endorsement of our equine welfare strategy, to see a champion racehorse heading to an elite equestrian rider and we look forward to watching them achieve amazing things together in the arena, like so many off the track thoroughbreds and riders before them.”