With Champagne Stakes winner She’s Extreme scheduled to have an exhibition gallop and Tristate returning to the races after a 10 month lay-off, Anthony Cummings has plenty to look forward to at Rosehill.
She’s Extreme will work between races in a final tune-up for her spring return in next week’s Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, while Tristate resumes in the final event on Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes program.
Gelded since his most recent preparation, Tristate has shown promise in his eight starts, stringing together back-to-back wins at the beginning of last season before finishing third behind Home Affairs and Paulele in the Heritage Stakes (1100m).
Since then, Home Affairs has landed a brace of majors while Paulele has notched a trio of Group 1 placings, including a third behind champion sprinter Nature Strip in the T J Smith Stakes and narrow second to Everest contender Mazu in the Doomben 10,000.
“It looks good, doesn’t it?” Cummings said of Tristate’s form reference.
“They’ve both gone on with it since then, so I’d say we’re in good shape.”
Tristate has raced just once since the Heritage Stakes, over-reacting to the addition of blinkers when he was caught three-wide outside the speed in the Roman Consul Stakes before tiring to finish last.
He missed the autumn after Cummings was dissatisfied with his condition and sent him back to the paddock, but the trainer is much happier this time around and believes the four-year-old can make his presence felt in what is a competitive benchmark 88 race.
“Last time he came back, he just wasn’t quite right,” Cummings said.
“It got to a point where he was better off having a break, so we did that and he’s come back and he’s good.
“I think he’s pretty much ready with the trials and the work he’s done.”
Tommy Berry has ridden Tristate in both his barrier trials and sticks with him on Saturday.
