Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings is simmering on the edge of another big spring carnival, even without the horse that became his Group One star 12 months ago.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Cumming suffered a big blow when Fiveandahalfstar, his Victoria Derby and BMW winner, suffered an injury when starting his preparation for the spring.
However such is the depth of his team that he is now looking to some emerging talents to step up to the top level, just as Fiveandhalfstar did last spring.
Leading the way are the exciting pair Drago and Clusters, ably supported by his recent provincial winner Best Case and fillies classic contender Wordplay.
Among his older horses Cummings has the honest and very much under estimated Fontelina and classy mare Arctic Flight set for the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals.
Fontelina is primed to give some big Melbourne sprints a shake, starting at Flemington on Saturday.
Fontelina impressed when second in a barrier trial at Sandown last week winning easily with Vlad Duric in the saddle.
He is set to resume in Saturday's G3 Bobbie Lewis at Flemington as his lead-up to the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m on September 29.
Listed Dark Jewel winner Arctic Flight ran a nice fourth in a recent trial and looks in good shape for her upcoming spring targets.
Drago, a raw talent who made a big impression duri9ng the autumn that ended with a win at Rosehill, is a popular pick to give Cummings back-to-back wins in the Victoria Derby at Flemington on November 2.
He turned heads with his storming first-up second in the Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Warwick farm on August 24 and will continue his preparation in the $1 million Golden Rose (140m)on Saturday week.
He has so much talent that he could easily win the Golden Rose although Cummings is the first to admit he will be so much better when he gets to the longer races.
If Drago is beaten in the Golden Rose it could be by his stablemate Cluster.
Although still a maiden his two efforts since resuming – a first-up second in the San Domenico Stakes before coming from last for fifth in last Saturday's Run To The Rose at Rosehill – has many rating him the horse to beat in the Golden Rose if he can gain a start.
"He is the right sort of horse and he's had the right preparation, he just hasn't had any luck,” Cummings said.
"If Cluster doesn't gain a start we'll look at the Spring Stakes at Newcastle," Cummings said.
The Savabeel colt Best Case is the “sleeper” in the Cummings three-year-old team but watch him to quickly step up in grade at Randwick on Saturday in the Listed Ming Dynasty after an impressive last to first maiden win over 1200m at Gosford last week.
He is a full brother to Cummings' talented G1 performer Strike The Stars and is heading towards the G1 Spring Champion Stakes before going on to Melbourne.
Wordplay, a winner at Warwick Farm last week at only her second start, is also bred to be a G1 star as she is Fiveandahalfstar's half sister.
"She is a lovely staying type filly," said Cummings. "Her main goal will be the VRC Oaks.”
