The attention of Anthony Cummings will be on a new generation at Randwick on Saturday following the retirement of stable stalwart Zavite.
The nine-year-old dual Group One winner ran his last race on Saturday when finishing at the tail of the field in the Chairman’s Handicap.
Cummings, whose only runners on Doncaster day this Saturday will be three two-year-olds, said Zavite had provided the stable and his owners with many great memories in a 67-start career which netted more than $2.4 million with big race wins in the Ranvet Stakes and Auckland Cup.
He also won an Adelaide Cup, Launceston Cup, Australia Day Cup, McKell Cup and a Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington.
“The indications were that he was going to return to his right form last weekend but plainly that didn’t happen,” Cummings said.
“His work had been good and he looks fine but he just wasn’t getting the result on race day and he had done too good a job for everyone for us to want to persevere.
“He was well-travelled and kept turning up time and again at the top level. He gave his owners a lot of fun and excitement.”
Group One winner Dealer Principal is also likely to be retired following an unplaced effort at Canterbury last Friday, Cummings said.
The owners of Zavite have another young stayer by Zabeel named Many Stars that Cummings said they hoped could fill the void.
“In the meantime the stable has some good young horses including Agueda, Calamba and Fiveandahalfstar and hopefully they can deliver on the weekend,” Cummings said.
Gooree-owned fillies Agueda and Calamba take aim in the Listed Keith Mackay Quality (1200m) while stablemate Fiveandahalfstar runs in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m).
Agueda is backing up after her second to Dances On Stars in the Kindergarten Stakes.
“Even though she has only won one race she’s been consistent at the top end and has suffered as a result of crook barriers in her past two,” Cummings said.
“She’s drawn wide again but who knows how it is going to turn out with the weather.
“She remains in good form and is healthy so she should run well again.”
Cummings said barrier four would give Calamba her chance to show her best at her third start.
“She’s a promising filly and this time she is drawn to get a cushy run. I think that might make the difference in her performance,” he said.
Fiveandahalfstar finished at the tail of the field in the Group Three Schweppervescence (1400m) last start after having a tough run from a wide gate.
Cummings said the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) on Saturday week was on the radar.
“There’s a few horses going by the wayside and this horse continues to improve,” he said.
