Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings could have been chasing a hat-trick of victories in Saturday’s $125,000 Group 3-The Run to the Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens – had it not been for one ‘thorn in his side.
Cummings won the Run to the Rose two years ago with the talented Smart Missile who zoomed down the outside with Glen Boss aboard to score impressively from Foxwedge.
However, in last year’s running, Cummings had to be content with second place when Your Song ran into champion galloper Pierro and was brave in defeat, going down by just over a length.
Cummings will this year rely on the lightly-raced Cluster who has shown plenty of ability in two starts. The Fastnet Rock colt was resuming when an excellent second to Va Pensiero in the Group 3-San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 17.
With natural improvement expected, Cluster should go close to giving Cummings his second Run to the Rose win in three years.
The trainer will also be represented in the race by Never Can Tell, a Group winner having taken out the Listed-Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill in February. Never Can Tell also returned from a break in the San Domenico and was not far away when fifth (beaten 1.6 lengths) to Va Pensiero.
The Run to the Rose has attracted 15 high quality nominations including Criterion (trainer David Payne), Dissident (Peter Moody), Equator and Marseille Roulette (Gai Waterhouse), Ike’s Legacy (David Vandyke), Eurozone (Bart & James Cummings), Va Pensiero (Jason Coyle), Sidestep (Peter Snowden), Napayshini (Grant Allard) and Zoustar (Chris Waller).
The other main event on Saturday’s program is the $100,000 Listed-Premier’s Cup (1800m) which has 18 nominations including Bayrir, I’m Imposing & Lunayir (Chris Waller), Honorious & Winning Glory (David Payne) and Less is More & Pretty Cheri (David Vandyke).
Gai Waterhouse has nominated the highly-rated Michelangelo, a horse purchased from Great Britain with a record of two wins and three placings from five starts, having been Group One-placed at Doncaster (2920m).
By Mark Brassel
