Barely a week after Bart and James Cummings announced they were closing their Flemington stable, another member of the family has shut up shop in Melbourne.
Anthony Cummings, the trainer son of Bart and father of James, has confirmed he will no longer have a base at Caulfield.
Viruses took a toll on Cummings’ spring team and he has decided his horses are better off at home in Sydney and can travel when necessary.
“It has been a frustrating time with viruses and colds. All the horse that went to Melbourne got crook,” Cummings said.
“There is an added risk in taking horses down there and putting them into a different horse population.
“There is no benefit. It makes more sense to have them healthy at home and then travel to Melbourne when we have to.
“It is not a difficult trip these days.”
Drago has been another source of frustration for Cummings but he is hoping the four-year-old can get his career back on track this summer.
Now a gelding, Drago finished just behind the placegetters in the 2013 Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes and was placed twice at Group Three level early in his three-year-old season.
Drago will run in the 1550m benchmark 75 at Randwick on Saturday.
“He ran sixth in last year’s Victoria Derby but then his turn of foot deserted him,” Cummings said.
“I thought he went quite well at Canterbury and we’ll see what he can do on Saturday.
“He is still down low in the ratings but if he wins and his rating goes up, the Villiers might come into view.”
The Group Two Villiers (1600m) on December 13 is the biggest race of the Sydney summer.
Drago, who has a rating of 79, will carry 61kg on Saturday with Tye Angland to ride.
