Cummings hoping headgear brings out the best in gelding.
Trainer James Cummings is hoping blinkers bring out the best in Pandemic (Sepoy) when he runs in Saturday's Straight Six (Listed, 1200m) at Flemington.
The four-year-old has been winless since he captured the Christmas Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day and was last seen finishing second to Savatoxl (Kuroshio) in the D C McKay Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Morphettville on May 1 and the son of Sepoy (Elusive Quality) has been backed on TAB from $6.50 into $4.20 favourite.
"He's coming off a strong closing second to the winner of The Goodwood, so that form speaks for itself," Cummings said.
"He has placed down the straight at Flemington before and has a distance victory to his credit in the southern state."
Damien Oliver, who has been having a good run with Godolphin and Cummings in recent months, reunites with Pandemic on Saturday having ridden the sprinter to victory in the Christmas Stakes.