He may have just entered into an official training partnership with his grandfather the legendary ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings, but James Cummings is still fearful of his father and fellow trainer Anthony Cummings when it comes to this Saturday’s The Run To The Rose 2013.
Eurozone is after their fourth win from as many starts this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Bart & James are enjoying a magic early ride as co-trainers with young gun Eurozone who look to retain their undefeated status in the $125,000 Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Racecourse this Saturday.
The Northern Meteor colt is already three-from-three having won their opening two under Bart’s name before their good win in the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) at Randwick on August 10 for the duo.
That victory saw Eurozone shoot up the markets for their major Sydney Spring Racing Carnival assignment, the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 14.
They now sit as the equal $6.50 second elect with Chris Waller’s JJ Atkins runner-up Zoustar, Golden Rose markets led narrowly by the Peter Snowden-trained Golden Slipper second placed Sidestep ($6).
While there’s nice form on those two rivals James admits it is his father’s horse Cluster, a $26 Golden Rose chance, that he will be keeping an eye on in Saturday’s The Run To The Rose.
“I couldn’t help but notice the sizzling track gallop from Cluster (Saturday) morning,” Cummings told the Herald Sun.
Fastnet Rock colt Cluster has had two starts to date but remains a maiden.
After a sixth on debut at Canterbury in April they resumed on August 13 at Rosehill and were an eye-catching second three quarters of a length off Va Pensiero in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m).
The Jason Coyle-trained winner Va Pensiero, as well as runner-up Windjammer of fourth placed Sidestep, is also engaged for Saturday’s traditional Golden Rose lead-up.
Cluster will be ridden by Peter Robl on Saturday with his trainer after another Golden Rose to add to the trophy he took out with Duport back in 2008.
He could have as many as three runners in the Golden Rose too also saying his Up And Coming Stakes runner-up Drago and Northern Meteor gelding One Step Beyond were on track.
“Cluster is heading that way and he has improved since his run the other day,” Anthony Cummings said.
“Drago was great first-up and he will go straight into the Golden Rose now.
“One Step Beyond is running in the Benchmark 75 race for three-year-olds on Saturday and if he wins that well, we will look at the Golden Rose for him, too.”
James Cummings meanwhile remains confident Eurozone, who jockey Hugh Bowman stays on, is the horse to beat.
“Our colt is on target, he has done very well since his last start, and he is in very good order,” he said over the weekend.
“This race next Saturday will be an interesting test of his mettle – I just hope he can keep it going into the Golden Rose.”
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