Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings, son of the Cups King Bart, believes he has unearthed a potential Caulfield and Melbourne Cup contender for the spring after his three-year-old galloper Shadows In The Sun scored a commanding win in the SA Derby last Sunday.
An up-and-coming son of top Australian stallion Dane Shadow, Shadows In The Sun scored the biggest victory of their career to date at Morphettville’s Super Sunday.
Not having won since their win over the Caulfield mile in October last year, Shadows In The Sun went into this year’s $350,000 Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) as a $21 outsider.
In a powerful performance, Shadows In The Sun was taken to the front early by jockey Ben Melham and outstayed their rivals until the very end.
On the line Shadows In The Sun finished a decisive three quarters of a length ahead of the Mick Price-trained Echoes Of Heaven ($6.50) while Lalla Rookh ($31) finished off the winning SA Derby trifecta a further length away for third.
Cummings has nominated Shadows In The Sun for a number of the upcoming Group 1 features during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival including the $500,000 Doomben Cup (2020m) on May 21 and the $500,000 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm’s Stradbroke Handicap Day, June 11.
“When he’s focused and concentrating on the job he’s a good, tough stayer,” Cummings’ stable foreman Graham Woolston said of Shadows In The Sun who is known to be a little quirky at times.
A decision on whether to head up to Queensland and vie for a Derby double this season is still being considered.
“I think the only reason Anthony would send him north now is if he can strike a firm track in Brisbane,” Woolston said.
“If not he’ll probably go to the paddock until the spring.
“He’s the sort of horse that when he puts it all together you’ll find he’s got loads of potential.”
Currently Shadows In The Sun is rated a $61 roughie for the Doomben Cup while in the early Queensland Oaks odds he has firmed into a $17 chance.
Fourth placegetter in the SA Derby on Sunday was the fast-finishing Mark Kavanagh-trained filly Kittens.
The eye-catching run against the colts and geldings saw the daughter of Redoute’s Choice, who won the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2020m) at Morphettville at her previous start, firm into a $10 chance to win the $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 4.
