Shadows In The Sun's target is the Queensland Derby
Dane Shadow three-year-old Shadows In The Sun scored an impressive three-quarter length win in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 8.
Backing up last Saturday having been bought to Brisbane, Shadows In The Sun failed to fire in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m) and after peaking early faded to finish a well-beaten eighth to second-time winner Scenic Shot.
The poor finish was explained with Shadows In The Sun found to have strained a hindquarter muscle throughout the Doomben Cup run.
Cummings bought the gelding over to Brisbane specifically to target the $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day, June 11.
After examining Shadows In The Sun after the Cup, Cummings was fearful the Derby dream was over.
“He’s not in great shape,” Cummings said of Shadows In The Sun after the race.
With the horse making a quicker than expected recovery, however, Cummings remains positive that they will be there come Derby Day.
“He was a lot better this morning so hopefully he can go on to the Derby,” he said.
“All we need is a dry track.”
Early Queensland Derby markets are lead by the Graeme Rogerson-trained duo of Shootoff ($5.50) and Kiwi filly Scarlett Lady ($6.50).
Both ran nice Derby trials at Doomben last Saturday.
Duelled gelding Shootoff finished a game fourth in the Doomben Cup while Scarlett Lady, also favourite for the upcoming Group 1 Queensland Oaks, won the Group 3 The Roses.
Shadows In The Sun sits further down the Derby odds currently rated a $21 chance.
It was a horror Doomben Cup Day for Cummings whose Fastnet Rock filly Gybe also failed to impress, coming out a little worse for wear after running 13th to Falino in the Group 3 BTC Classic (1350m).
Jarring up in the run, Cummings confirmed last Saturday she would likely miss the remainder of the Brisbane Winter Carnival as would stablemate Sister Madly.
“She (Gybe) has come home to Sydney,” he said today.
Meanwhile, Cumming’s four-year-old Redoute’s Choice mare Sister Madly, last seen when finishing dead last to Atomic Force in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick on April 16, will go on sale at next week’s National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.
Sister Madly has raced just 13 times for two wins and six minor placings earning a fraction over $280,000 in prize money.
She is a half-sister to Hong Kong star Silent Witness and is raced by her breeder Ian Smith.
Smith said Sister Madly was still a wild chance of running in the Group 1 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm at the end of next month if she did not attract a high enough bid at the sales.
“If she is not sold, then she could go to the Winter Stakes,” Cummings confirmed.
“She is a valuable broodmare anyway and that could make her even more valuable.”
