Melbourne Cup discard Precedence maybe shooting for a third straight victory down south but co-trainer James Cummings has other things on the mind.
“Utter devastation,” said Cummings, who trains in partnership with his grand-father, the legendary, Bart.
James Cummings was referring to typhoon Haiyan which recently tore through the Philippines claiming thousands of lives and destroying everything in its path.
“We’ve only just arrived in Manila and it is unbelievable what has happened,” Cummings said on Thursday via a scratchy mobile.
“We can only pray we never see anything like this happen to people again.”
Cummings was accompanied to the Philippines by his fiancée Monica Barrera. The pair recently announced their engagement.
Barrera is the grand-daughter of Philippine billionaire Eduardo Cojunangco who is a racing tragic to the benefit of Australian thoroughbred players.
Over several decades Cojunangco has been a loyal supporter of racing down under as his NSW based Gooree Stud has bred and raced a number of stars including the aptly named Desert War and swift sprinter Northern Meteor.
“We’re here on secret business and the phone is about to run dead,” Cummings said.
“Well how is Precedence doing down south?” was the next question.
“Can you believe he is shooting for three in a row?” came the reply.
“I think that is amazing for this horse and it is a credit to the whole team involved.
“The staff, as usual have done an outstanding job and we’re all reaping the dividends.”
Now an eight-year-old Precedence will lead out the field for Saturday’s Zipping Classic at Caulfield.
When claiming a second Moonee Valley Gold Cup some three weeks back Precedence became the Melbourne Cup yarn for it was the only chance Bart Cummings had of claiming the race for a 13th time.
Unfortunately Precedence was left stranded at 25 in the Melbourne Cup ballot which allows for only 24 starts in the nation stopper.
“Unfortunate he didn’t get a run in the cup, I’m not sure if he has been going any better,” James Cummings said.
Missing the cup prompted the Cummings camp to aim for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last Saturday and the son of Zabeel didn’t let the team down.
“We’ve kept him a bit fresher this time in work and it certainly is working,” Cummings said.
“He had a good trip away to Queensland in the winter, a nice holiday in the sun.
“Those he beat last weekend are meeting him worse under the weight-for-age conditions on Saturday so that’s another positive.
“The import of [trainer] Sam Kavanagh’s Midsummer Sun is the one I’m worried about, I liked the way he got home last time out at Flemington.
“But we know our horse has done the work, he had a hard gallop last Saturday.”
At Rosehill on Saturday the Cummings clan will line-up with Roasalie and Maximilian.
“A couple of cheeky chances, I’ve got to go,” Cummings said.
By Craig Young
