The Cummings clan are firing up. Antoher season has opened, another spring carnival bearing on down. Millions to be won but it is all about the race.
Or should that be races? Thinks JB Cummings. The maestro, the equine genius, has taken on grandson James in a training partnership.
James, the son of Anthony, who is the son of Bart, the Melbourne Cup man. Now it is son against son and son again at Randwick racecourse, stabled in the one precinct.
And once again Anthony Cummings, who is coming off a best prizemoney season of some $5.6million, is only too happy to reveal why his father is an Australian icon, the living legend, a hall of famer.
“The old man taught everything I know but not everything he knows,” Anthony Cummings repeated on Thursday.
Asked about James, who did his early work at the father’s Randwick stable, deserting to the famed grandfather, the proud parent replies; “Maybe he is getting the other bits”.
“I reckon it is the best result for everyone, the old man, the horses, the clients,” Cummings said.
So, the spring carnival starts to simmer at Randwick on Saturday. The San Domenico Stakes ushers in the impending windfall and Anthony Cumming will start Never Can Tell and Cluster in the nine horse three-year-old race.
Cluster being the latest boom horse from the “big man’s stable”. The one gifted jockey Hugh Bowman opted to ride instead of his first-up winner Windjammer.
“Very good,” Cummings replied when asked about Cluster.
“His only run so far, last preparation was in a hot field. He wasn’t disgraced, pulled up shin sore and went to the paddock, went to the paddock with this program in mind.
“He is a pretty imposing type, has a great constitution, has a fantastic attitude to life.
“He doesn’t waste energy on anything other than the productive. Doesn’t get unnerved, goes along and does what you want, leaves plenty in the tank for when required.”
But don’t under-estimate Never Can Tell.
“He certainly runs first three,” Cummings declared.
“A stakes winner at his second race start. They are quite different horses. One is an out and out sprinter, Never Can Tell, the other will be at his best 1600m and further, it is not fair to compare them.”
And don’t forget Edward Cummings. The son of Anthony, grandson of Bart, brother of James. He is a stable foreman for the father.
Will his brother James lure him to the grand fathers team?
“Blood is thicker than water, how would you know?” Anthony Cummings chuckled.
By Craig Young
