Two-time city winner Bellissimo is king of the kids at Anthony Cummings’ satellite stable in Melbourne and connections hope he can continue to reign at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The five-year-old will be the Sydney-based trainer’s sole flag bearer at the Valley when he lines up in the Make-A-Wish Sprint (1200m).
He is one of the few older horses currently in residence at Cummings’ Caulfield stables which have been filled by new season two-year-olds.
It won’t be the case for long with his Melbourne spring carnival contingent set to swell the numbers in the coming months.
“It’s more for springtime but at this time of the year we have a few babies down there,” Cummings said of his Melbourne base.
“The babies all get their turn to go through the Melbourne stable as part of their education. There are half a dozen there now.”
Bellissimo has done the bulk of his recent racing in Melbourne because it is where the majority of his owners live.
He notched a midweek win at Sandown in May and was given a short break due to a setback following his last start second to Secret Stealth at Caulfield in June.
“He had a sore foot after his last run,” Cummings said.
“We took him off to the trials at Cranbourne on Monday and he won his trial and looked quite sharp in that.
“He comes back in distance but on his trial he will be competitive.
“He’s a nice horse, a good consistent horse. He enjoys the sting out of the ground and he gets a bit of that through the winter.”
In an opening betting race, Bellissimo is being kept safe at $6 with Bombalatomba the $4.60 elect.
