On the basis that if you don’t try you’ll never know, trainer Anthony Cummings is happy to throw Vergara in the deep end of the Group One pool.
The mare is the rank outsider in Saturday’s Myer Classic (1600m) but Cummings has produced a few upsets at Flemington in the past, the most famous being Fiveandahalfstar’s 2012 Victoria Derby win as a $41 chance.
Vergara is at $101 to topple her 14 rivals including the classy Royal Descent and talented filly Stay With Me.
The winner of the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong in September, Vergara has been on the heels of the placegetters at three subsequent starts.
“She’s very tough and has been one of the more consistent mares all the way through,” Cummings said.
“She has competed at stakes level all the way through this campaign.
“She has got herself into odd spots and last start in the Angst she was too close to a very hot speed.
“She’s very game and enjoys her work and in a year when we lack a top-class mare in those ranks, she can do well.”
Cummings conceded Royal Descent, a Group One winner and multiple placegetter at the highest level, was a formidable opponent if her Caulfield Cup run had not taken too much out of her.
The Chris Waller-trained Royal Descent was a long last in the Caulfield Cup after working hard from the outside alley.
“Royal Descent has a pretty hard road to hoe coming back form a mile-and-a-half and a tough run in the Caulfield Cup,” he said.
“The one thing in her favour is that they were kind to her down the straight.
“Coming back in distance is never easy. They’ve changed tack with her and that may or may not work.”
Bookmakers think it will with Royal Descent the $6 TAB second favourite behind Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me at $4.20.
