Anthony Cummings is hoping weekend success with his two-year-old team carries over to midweek racing when Ninth Legion steps out at Canterbury.
Jockey Peter Robl was successful on the Cummings-trained youngsters Diamond Earth and Calamba last weekend and he will be aboard Ninth Legion as the colt kicks off his career in the Flinders Lane Perfect Fit Maiden (1100m) on Wednesday.
“He’s drawn a little bit awkwardly (in barrier 11) but I think he’s got the makings of quite a nice horse,” Cummings said.
“He’s taken a little bit of time to find his feet but he’ll run well.”
Ninth Legion had a barrier trial in late December and then trialled again late last month on heavy ground at Canterbury ahead of his debut.
The son of Fastnet Rock is among nominations for next month’s Group One TJ Smith (1600m) in Brisbane but that could come around too soon.
“It would be pretty tight for time to make that work,” Cummings said of the June 9 race.
“You never say never, but he would need to be impressive (on Wednesday) to make that possible.
“His best will be next preparation as he gets over a little bit more ground but he does look to be a talented horse.”
Robl is booked to ride all four of Cummings’s Canterbury entrants including four-year-old Dream Alibi who is one of the outsiders in the Bowermans Furniture Handicap over 2800m.
“She steps up in trip but has always shown some staying ability and this trip should be reasonable for her,” Cummings said.
The favourite is the Gai Waterhouse-trained three-year-old Tohunga who was a last-start fifth in the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m).
Tohunga, a son of Zabeel, is in line for a trip north for the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 9 where he is a $21 chance with TAB Sportsbet.
“If he runs up to expectations tomorrow he’ll go up to Brisbane for the Derby,” Waterhouse’s racing manager Bruce Slade said.
The Cummings-trained Diamond Earth won her third race of the season with a three-quarter length success over 1100m at Scone’s stand-alone meeting on Saturday while Calamba has been sent for a spell after breaking through over 1300m at Randwick on Sunday.
