Legendary trainer Bart Cummings, fresh from his best season in twenty years, is preparing for another assault on the big spring races.
Last year, Cummings won the Caulfield Cup with the ill-fated Viewed and the Cox Plate with three year old So You Think.
He also won the Toorak Handicap (Allez Wonder), VRC Oaks (Faint Perfume), Australian Guineas (Rock Classic), Vinery Stud Stakes (Faint Perfume) and Queensland Derby (Dariana), taking his Group 1 tally to seven.
As always, however, Cummings is looking forward to a big spring with large nominations for the major spring races.
In a sneak peek ahead of tomorrow’s nominations, the stable has informed Just Horse Racing that they hold twelve nominations for the Melbourne Cup and twelve nominations for the Cox Plate.
His bid for a 13th Melbourne Cup will be headlined by current favourite, VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume.
However, his “back-ups” are definitely no slouches.
They include Cox Plate winner So You Think, Australian Cup winner Sirmione, Queensland Derby winners Empires Choice and Dariana, Australian Cup placegetter Moatize and Manion Cup winner Precedence.
Rounding out his nominations are improving stayers Brightnight, Landlord and Star Ripper, and enigmatic gallopers Joe Blow and Zabdued.
His Cox Plate team also looks very strong, with last year’s winner So You Think to be aimed at a title defence.
Group 1 winners Allez Wonder, Dariana, Faint Perfume, Rock Classic and Sirmione are also entered, along with the Group 1 placed Latin News and the stakes-placed Landlord.
Interestingly, Cummings has entered four three-year-olds for the race, led by Fernhill Handicap winner Kudakulari.
Big Storm, Good View and Skorost are his other entrants.
It is a team which any trainer would relish, and a Cummings victory in either race will be well received by all.
Just Horse Racing will have the nominations first when they are released tomorrow afternoon.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
