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| Cummings to the fore in Randwick features |
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Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings is confident the promising stallion Trader can live up to the stable’s opinion of him in Saturday’s Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick.
Trader has won two of his four race starts including a last-start win over 1300 metres at Rosehill on December 5, narrowly beating Skytrain.
“He’s a pretty attractive horse,” Cummings said. “He’s building a reasonable record on the track as well as in the mirror so hopefully he can take another step in the right direction on Saturday.”
The four-year-old has had one previous attempt in stakes company for a midfield finish behind in-form Queenslander Burdekin Blues at Flemington on VRC Oaks day.
However, Cummings said the son of Dehere will be improved for the extra experience he has had since the Flemington race which was only Trader’s second race start.
“The Razor Sharp Handicap is definitely a step up in grade,” Cummings said. “But he’s had a bit of experience at that level before running up the straight at Flemington.
“He’s in much better shape than he was then. He only got beaten just over five lengths by Burdekin Blues who would run favourite in this race.
“In terms of ability, I don’t think he will be too far off them and he’ll definitely be right up there for fitness. I really couldn’t fault his gallops this week.”
Cummings could also give Vardon Flyer his second chance at stakes level in the Group II Villiers Stakes over the famous Randwick mile.
The son of Flying Spur finished midfield in the 2008 Group III Frank Packer Plate but showed himself as a promising staying prospect with his strong last start second at Rosehill earlier in December.
Cummings has also accepted with the five-year-old in the Chandon Handicap over 2000 metres with the trainer yet to decide which race to tackle with Vardon Flyer.
“We’re going to have a look at each field before we decide which way to go but I am leaning towards the 2000-metre race with him,” Cummings said.
“He’s working well and I think he’d make a difference in either race.”
Friday, 18 December 2009 |
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