While the three-year-olds didn’t dominate the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Group 1, 1000m) as many had anticipated, trainer James Cummings is confident his colt, Traffic Warden, will be a serious contender in next Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap (G1, 1200m).
The Street Boss colt ran fifth behind Skybird in the Lightning, but Cummings believes he has taken significant improvement from the run.
“Traffic Warden pulled up bouncing after the Lightning,” Cummings said.
“The horse was game in defeat, it was not a race for the three-year-olds as it was expected to be on the day. The three three-year-old colts are all very good horses, but it was a race for the mares in the end.”
Cummings recently traveled to his Melbourne stable to check on the promising colt and was highly impressed with his condition leading into another Group 1 challenge at Flemington.
“I was very pleased with how he presented when I was there in Melbourne during the week to cast my eye over him; he’s one to keep an eye on.
“I think he’s going to be a big factor when it comes to the Newmarket, up to six furlongs will suit him nicely.”
