Ed Cummings will monitor Arts over the coming days before deciding whether she backs-up in the ATC Australian Oaks following her scintillating win in the Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick.
The Xtravagant filly unleashed a withering finish to come from back in the field and street her rivals in Saturday’s Group 3 race, a traditional Oaks lead-up.
While Arts ($26) snuck under the guard of most punters, Cummings said the filly had always shown staying promise but had needed time.
“She arrived midway through last year and she just needed a little introductory preparation or two before we started getting serious,” Cummings said.
“We felt like she was a nice horse from early on, but it was always going to be a matter of time.”
Arts only made her debut in February, scoring over 1400m on the provincial circuit, then was ridden against her preferred get-back pattern when last in the Kembla Grange Classic.
Cummings gave her a tick-over trial and kept his faith in the filly, who repaid it with Saturday’s devastating performance.
The young trainer and his brother, Godolphin head trainer James, have won the past four Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) between them, Ed Cummings successful with Duais two years ago and James with Colette (2020) and Honeycreeper (2022).
Duais went on to finish runner-up to Hungry Heart in the Australian Oaks before winning the Queensland version and Ed Cummings will give Arts a chance to go one better in Sydney, provided she pleases him this week.
“There’s a lot of water to pass under the bridge. I think I said those exact same words two years ago with Duais, but this filly, she’s probably got a longer stride and she’s got a better turn of foot,” Cummings said.
“Whether it comes too soon is yet to be determined.
“We’ll see how she comes through the next few days but more than likely we’ll be paying up on Tuesday for the Oaks.”
Cummings will have to find a new rider for Arts with Saturday’s winning jockey Sam Clipperton holding a prior booking for Pierossa.
