Last year Colette for the James Cummings brand won the $200k Gr 3 Adrian Knox Stakes.
This year that same Cummings had the favourite FLEXIBLE (Hallowed Crown – Dextrous) engaged with the very much in form Tommy Berry riding her.
And Cummings won the race…..only it wasn’t James, or his dad Anthony.
It was Edward Cummings, brother of James, son of Anthony, grandson of Bart, and this was the biggest win of his short solo training career.
This Adrian Knox race for the 3YO fillies, over 2000m is often a great lead-up event for the Gr 1 Australian Oaks a week later.
Last year for example it gave us Colette. She went on to win the Australian Oaks and as we know has since improved to win a few more Gr 1 races.
So when DUAIS (Shamus Award – Meerlust) brilliantly handled by Hughie Bowman, burst past the leaders for Ed Cummings, and away from Flexible to go on and win comfortably, she did so looking like an Oaks type.
BARGAIN (Ocean Park – Shopaholic) was an eye-catcher as well. She rattled from last on the bend, gathering speed all the way down the running to grab 2nd.
It was a bottler of an Oaks trial as well.
Flexible wound up 3rd and her run was solid but she can’t beat the two who beat her today on today’s respective efforts.
A thoughtful Bowman said, “I think she put the writing on the wall midweek and that day she gave me a good feel.
“So, I’ll be honest, she will make her presence felt in the Oaks if they go that way with her.
“She is strong and joined in beautifully when I asked, and has a bright future. Plus, she has a Cummings training her.”
That Cummings, sporting a huge smile as you’d expect, said of her, “for sure, this is a big day for me, but lots of hard work has come to fruition for her.
“She has always been earmarked as a filly with a big future. Her half-sister Baccarat Baby was a group horse and I’m just so thankful I have been given the opportunity to train this filly.”
