Anthony Cummings praised champion jockey Glen Boss’ ride on Red Eye Special after the former New Zealand gelding took another step towards the Group One Metropolitan with victory at Rosehill on Saturday.
Boss, who was in Sydney to partner the Cummings-trained Smart Missile in the $1 million Golden Rose, was able to get Red Eye Special across from a wide gate (11) to be midfield and one off the fence settling down in the Styletread.com.au Handicap (1900m).
Boss then got going three wide with cover when the pace slackened mid-race, and Red Eye Special ground down his rivals in the straight to defeat Mossamine by a short neck with a half-head to Saint Saiala.
“He’s brought his A-game,” Cummings said of Boss.
“It was either get in where he did or be four deep in a horrible position. He then tracked the grey horse (Spence) into the race and he was too good.
“It was an intelligent ride and a good result. This horse is going somewhere.”
Red Eye Special, a five-year-old son of Yamanin Vital, was having just his second start for Cummings after doing his early racing in New Zealand.
The gelding is nominated for all the spring features with the Group One Metropolitan his first main target.
“I’ll have a look and see how he does, he probably needs another one to get a strong mile and a half (2400m),” Cummings said.
“It is two weeks until the Colin Stephen and then it’s a week to the Metrop. That’s what I’m probably looking at. He’s a nice horse.”
The Group Three Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) is at Rosehill on September 24 with the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 1.
AAP TURF
