Anthony Cummings’ belief in his own judgment rather than form guides was justified on Saturday as Fontelina won the Group Two Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) to cap an impressive day.
The four-year-old Testa Rossa gelding iced the meeting for Cummings following his victory with Fiveandahalfstar in the $1.5 million Victoria Derby.
Fontelina winning the Yellowglen Stakes at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
The Yellowglen Stakes was a race targeted for Fontelina since his return from a winter spell and Cummings was always confident he could pull off a win.
“A lot of the form guides said he wasn’t there but I knew myself where the horse was and the improvement he’d taken last time through that he’d made the step that was required to be competitive today,” Cummings said.
“This was a bit of a long-range plan. We decided probably two or three months ago that we’d aim up here.”
Fontelina will now contest the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington next Saturday.
“It depends on how he pulls up obviously but the plan is, he’s still in the Patinack,” Cummings said.
Fontelina won by a half neck from Spirit of Boom with Tiger Tees third.
Howmuchdoyouloveme, the 3-1 favourite, was allowed to run following a stewards’ inquiry but was swamped over the final 400m.
Trainer Con Karakatsanis and his father Tony were questioned pre-race by stewards after officials allegedly found horse drenching equipment in Howmuchdoyouloveme’s stable earlier on Saturday.
The pair denied they had treated the horse on the day and, while stewards said they did not have enough evidence to prove their case, decided to investigate further and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Con Karakatsanis was disappointed with Howmuchdoyouloveme’s performance.
“He is a lot better than that,” he said.
“Brenton (Avdulla) said he was gone from the jump.”
