Change of tack lands Prized Icon in Group 1 Australian Guineas
WITH a weather forecast predicting rain for Saturday’s Randwick Guineas, trainer James Cummings has elected to send quality three-year-old Prized Icon to the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington.
Prized Icon was floated up to Melbourne last night after Cummings spent the day tossing and turning whether to stay or leave Sydney. Cummings said the uncertainty surrounding Saturday’s meeting going ahead was a major factor in his decision.
“If we were to get the wetter part of the forecast the meeting would have to be in some doubt and I wasn’t willing to take that risk with a horse whose program is geared towards an Australian Derby,” Cummings said.
“Ideally we’d be staying in Sydney on Saturday but the weather has forced my hand.
“He arrived in Melbourne this morning, he’s travelled before, and initial reports are good.
“He’s a horse that mature beyond his years.”
Prized Icon was a terrific winner in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington and Cummings is hoping it can reproduce a similar effort to take out the $750,000 feature.
“I’m a bit excited now that he’s there,” Cummings said. “His Flemington win in the Derby was outstanding and maybe, just maybe, he’s a horse that raises the bar when he runs at Flemington.
“We’ve drawn a good gate, our jockey has got one of Australian best group one report cards this season and we’re happy with where the horse is at.”
Prized Icon is currently an +1000 chance with Sportsbet.com.au for the Australian Guineas, with Comin’ Through taking over as the favourite for the Randwick Guineas on the heavy track.
More than 88mm of rain has fallen at Randwick over the past week and track manager Navesh Ramdhani said it will be another 24 hours before he can provide a more precise outlook for the meeting.
“I spoke to the forecaster (at the Bureau of Meteorology) this morning and fingers crossed but he said it’s looking better than by the minute for today and tomorrow,” Ramdhani said.
“Specifically, for Randwick the worst threat today was before midday then a possible shower for the rest of the day and then it’s similar tomorrow. Some early showers then a reasonable afternoon.
“Right now at Randwick, it looks quite promising but it can build up quickly.
“The concern is they’re forecasting a low to hit sometime on Saturday afternoon. The forecaster couldn’t tell me precisely when at this stage but we should have a clearer indication of when to expect it on Friday afternoon after he looks at his models tomorrow.
“It’s just hard to be clear on what precisely is going to happen until tomorrow.”
Ramdhani said the surface has recovered well after the Chipping Norton Stakes where Winx ploughed through the heavy conditions.
“Considering the rain we’ve had in the past week the track is in amazing order,” Ramdhani said.
“Since I’ve been here it’s never recovered better from a meeting on a heavy track a week before.
“I’m on it right now having a look and you can barely tell where they’ve raced.”