Anthony Cummings is prepared to run lightly-raced filly Ever The Same at Group One weight-for-age level if it means avoiding a clash with unbeaten star Atlantic Jewel.
Cummings has nominated Ever The Same for the $400,000 All Aged Stakes, one of four Group One races to close the Sydney carnival at Randwick on Saturday, as well as the James H B Carr Stakes.
As expected, Atlantic Jewel is entered for the All Aged and the Group Two Emancipation Stakes but her James H B Carr entry took Cummings by surprise.
Cummings echoed the thoughts of many others sweating on a decision from Atlantic Jewel’s trainer Mark Kavanagh when he said: “I’ll be running my filly in whatever race Atlantic Jewel won’t be running in.
“We’ll be heading in the opposite direction.”
Atlantic Jewel and Ever The Same were among 13 entries for the All Aged with Joe Pride providing three nominations – Rain Affair, Neeson and Miss Keepsake.
Pride says he will also avoid running Rain Affair against Atlantic Jewel in the All Aged if a firm track is presented for the Sydney Cup meeting.
Ever The Same is the winner of three races from seven starts, including a last-start black type breakthrough in the P J Bell Stakes at Canterbury.
Held up until the 150-metre mark, Ever The Same took a split between horses to tip out Aerobatics in the Listed race.
“She’s in good form and if the All Aged turned out to be a lesser race I would be happy to go that way,” Cummings said.
Cummings expects to be represented in most support races on Saturday with Shadows In The Sun a confirmed starter in the Hall Mark Stakes.
Shadows In The Sun, last year’s South Australian Derby winner, hasn’t raced since finishing down the track in the Queensland Derby.
“He’ll trialled at Canterbury (on Monday) and he’ll go around on Saturday,” Cummings said.
Cummings said Shadows In the Sun would be given a short campaign.
“He’ll have a light preparation before getting ready for the spring,” he said.
