The Championships

The CHAMPIONSHIPS

15 April, 2018

The Championships have become an important part of the racing calendar as the Autumn Carnival heads to Royal Randwick. The Grand Finals of Australian Racing offers over $20 million in prizemoney and attract the best horses from around the country and abroad.
 

Day 1 of the event saw Cummings Racing represented well as we looked to build on the promising careers of our younger generation. Think Straight got his chance at Group level after winning his maiden in style at Hawkesbury at his second start. The son of So You Think contested the Carbine Club Stakes over the mile and worked home well down the Randwick straight behind the Victorian Muraaqeb.
 

The jockey stated “We got interfered with early on and that upset him, making him pull for the remainder of the race until the field quickened. He gave me a really good feel as he sprinted for 150m, but the early scrimmage had taken its toll. He will make a lovely horse in the Spring”

Anthony and Edward have reported “He is a very nice horse in the making. We didn’t get any favours and he had the tenacity to run on well despite the early interference. He will go for a spell now and be back for a Spring campaign. We look forward to seeing him race over 2000m and further.”
 

The last of the day was for the three year old stayers and the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes gave us a good barometer for the future staying prospects. One Fire Beach is an impeccably bred Street Cry filly who really stepped up to the mark on the big stage doing her best work late behind Wakeful Stakes winner Luvaluva. The flashy chestnut was dominant when she won her maiden over the 1400m at Kembla Grange and the stable will have plenty to work with as she matures and gains valuable race experience. The jockey stated “She is a lovely filly that will appreciate a set of blinkers. Feels like she will stay, but just needs to be better when they sprint home.”
 

Anthony and Edward have reported “We will drop her back in grade and distance and try her in blinkers. If she comes through that run in good order and the blinkers help then she may go to Brisbane for another attempt at 3yo Group level.”

It was a blustery day that greeted the big crowd for Day 2 of The Championships. The hype surrounded Winx as she looked to equal Black Caviar’s record but Cummings Racing was focussed on the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes. The Uncle Mo filly Sister Sledge was last seen in the Group 2 Riesling Stakes where she matched it with the Golden Slipper winner Estijaab. Unfortunately she knuckled over as the gates opened and over-raced from that point, laying in when under pressure in the straight. The experience gained in the first 2 starts at Group level will set the filly up nicely as she looks to progress through her 2YO year.

The jockey stated “She wanted to over-race after beginning and laid in under pressure, so I sat up and tried to take care of her.”

Anthony and Edward have reported “A disappointing end to her prep, but we will take care of her and have her ready for the Spring. We are really excited about her prospects when she gets out to 1400m and 1600m.”