



Cummings takes cold comfort in cup campaign


Andrew Eddy

Bart Cummings endures the cold at Caulfield yesterday morning.

Bart Cummings endures the cold at Caulfield yesterday morning. Photo: Vince Caligiuri


WHEN most people lay eyes on Bart Cummings this spring carnival, it will be at one of the big meets when it all seems so easy. Just saddle the horse, conduct a few interviews, shake a few hands and collect the spoils. But like all successful horse players, he does pay his dues, as he did at Caulfield yesterday morning.

Recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia that put him in hospital for three weeks in April, Cummings, 82, has only been permitted to attend trackwork for a few weeks, but he found no favours from the weather on his trip from Sydney to watch four of his Melbourne Cup horses gallop on the course proper.

Melbourne Cup hopes Brightnight and Moatize at the track yesterday.

Melbourne Cup hopes Brightnight and Moatize at the track yesterday. Photo: Vince Caligiuri

Dressed for battle in a woollen coat, Cummings braved the bitter cold and occasional icy showers as he stood in the uncovered mounting yard to watch the four horses flash by as they completed their work.

It can be miserable work, but never one to miss the chance of using a course proper for a fast gallop, Cummings eagerly watched his charges surge through the slow conditions in what will be a final practice match of sorts before the real stuff.

When they were done, Cummings diligently noted the time, spoke with the riders and Melbourne foreman Reg Fleming and then figured that it wasn't such a bad morning after all.

"They all went pretty well considering the track condition," he said while explaining that the trip from Flemington had been worthwhile. "It's still early days, but they're coming on."

Cummings nominated 10 horses in his quest for a 13th victory in the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup. All will have been to the races by the end of the month, including Cox Plate winner So You Think, who is expected to return on Saturday in the Liston Stakes at Caulfield.

Cummings said the four-year-old was carrying a little condition, but would run if the track was no worse than slow. "He works better than he looks, so I'm quite happy," he said.

The trainer was either a hard marker or being cagey, as So You Think presented superbly. A little rangy as a three-year-old, he's turned into a mighty specimen. The way he stamps his feet when he walks is all part of his make-up. "He knows he's pretty good," jockey Steven Arnold said.

But Cummings was careful not to get too excited about So You Think's Melbourne Cup chances despite his respect for the horse. "There's a long way to go before we have to worry about that. We'll go the Yalumba Stakes then Cox Plate and if we're happy we can go to the Cup from there," he said.

Cummings has the favourite, Faint Perfume, for the Melbourne Cup. "She's a couple of weeks away. Probably the Memsie [Stakes on August 28], but I like the way she's come back in."


1. BRIGHTNIGHT (Melbourne Cup odds, $61): Given the task of partnering the huge gelding Moatize in his work at Caulfield yesterday and was in a lather of sweat on his return so he clearly put in. "He ran fifth in the Queensland Derby and he's improved since then. He's a promising stayer," Cummings said of the Savabeel four-year-old. Might be 12 months away.

2. DARIANA ($14 equal second favourite): Got through the wet going better than her workmate So You Think yesterday and looks ready to resume in the next few weeks. Looks a very strong four-year-old mare and carries some residual fitness from her last start in June in Brisbane when she thrashed the colts in the Queensland Derby. Cummings has won Cups with horses with lesser credentials.

3. EMPIRES CHOICE ($101): Cummings has continued to try this seven-year-old Redoute's Choice entire despite his numerous injuries since his impressive Queensland Derby win in 2007. Has had just three runs since and none since the 2009 Stradbroke Handicap.

4. FAINT PERFUME ($12 favourite): VRC Oaks winner and runner-up in the AJC Oaks. Most stable followers have hitched their wagons to this mare in the cups this year. Was clearly among the best of her age last season when only small and has grown and a little since. "Leilani and Light Fingers were not big, but were still pretty good," Cummings noted.

5. JOE BLOW ($201): Bred and raced by John Singleton, this horse presents Cummings with his toughest task. A slow, Sadler's Wells six-year-old he has won just two races and nothing beyond 1800 metres. Will need to have improved 30 lengths over the winter break.

6. LANDLORD ($81): Promising One Cool Cat four-year-old who's Queensland Derby tilt last season was abandoned after an eye-catching placing the Grand Prix Stakes. Had only seven starts but will be lightly weighted and must win one of the few suitable exempt races to gain a Melbourne Cup start.

7. MOATIZE ($51): Has come back in great order and is now a fully matured six-year-old. "He's big and strong — you can't get any stronger," Cummings said. "We know he can handle the distance OK." Shown enormous promise since Queensland Derby placing in 2008. Ran second to Bauer in the Geelong Cup and sixth in the Melbourne Cup that spring but was then injured. This is his time.

8. PRECEDENCE ($31): A year younger than Moatize but fits a similar bill. Showed up when second in VRC St Leger as a three-year-old but has not quite made his mark since. A Zabeel horse who is entered for a return over 1600 metres at Caulfield on Saturday. Has to improve a few lengths but at his physical peak now.

9. SIRMIONE ($41): At seven, getting on a little, but has won such group 1 races as the Mackinnon Stakes in 2007 and the Australian Cup the following autumn. Has not scored since that day in March, 2008, but has run some great races such as his narrow second in the Australian Cup earlier this year. Does not jump out as an ideal 3200-metre horse but, if he stays sound, he could make the final cut.

10. SO YOU THINK ($26): A magnificent horse, who is much stronger than he was last spring when he toyed with the best in the Cox Plate. Still at big odds for the Melbourne Cup as there is a query on whether he can stay the trip. Will be given a Cox Plate program this spring but there is something special about this horse. "As a jockey, he's the sort of horse that you want to ride. He's magnificent," Steven Arnold said.


Dariana, 1, Faint Perfume 2, So You Think 3, Moatize 4.

Andrew Eddy's column will appear every Wednesday.

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