He didn’t get the results he hoped for but trainer Anthony Cummings was anything but disheartened by the defeats of his highly-rated colts Drago and Cluster over the weekend.
Cluster finished a fighting third to Divine Calling in the Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley under lights on Friday when he came from second last and was narrowly beaten.
A day later at Rosehill, Drago settled worse than midfield in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and was forced to make a sustained run before peaking over the final 200m to finish third behind Complacent and Savvy Nature.
While disappointed the pair didn’t win, Cummings believes they both remain on track for their respective spring assignments.
The Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is the most likely target for Cluster who is still a maiden after five starts but has shown great potential, underlined by his Stutt Stakes placing.
“He ran very well. He had an awkward gate, got back a long way, he sustained a run and just didn’t quite finish it off,” Cummings said.
“He gave the winner two lengths start and was beaten about a neck.
“I will think about it this week but he will most likely go to the Guineas.”
Drago put the writing on the wall as an autumn two-year-old when he produced two cracking performances to finish fourth in consecutive Group One races.
He went on to win an 1800m benchmark race in May, the same event Fiveandahalfstar finished third in 12 months earlier before going on to claim that year’s Victoria Derby.
Drago has drawn comparisons with his stablemate and Cummings is hoping he confirms that talent in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in two weeks.
“He will be much better going to the mile-and-a-quarter and going to Randwick,” Cummings said.
“He is on track to head to the Spring Champion Stakes and the Victoria Derby.”
