Cummings pumps up Godolphin trio for Melbourne Cup Carnival
James Cummings, the head trainer of Godolphin Australia, has confirmed that Alegron and In Secret will run on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.
In Secret, who has won the Group 2 Run To The Rose and finished second in the Group 1 Golden Rose at her two starts this preparation, will be running in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes down the Flemington straight over 1200m.
“Yeah I am really, really happy with that filly. She’s freshened up beautifully since the Golden Rose,” Cummings told Racing.com.
“That’s proved to be a very good form line to follow over the past few weeks and she’s going to drop back to six furlongs and be very well suited under those conditions, in a strong Coolmore.
“I think she might have run a big race in The Everest, but we decided not to go that way.”
Cummings was quick to point out that he believes In Secret would have run very well in The Everest had the track been firmer, but the wet conditions forced the stable to hold her back and aim at the Coolmore as her grand final.
Godolphin’s Melbourne Cup hopeful, Alegron, also worked at Flemington on Tuesday morning after coming through his Caulfield Cup run unscathed, finishing a disappointing fourth-last back on October 15.
“He pulled up well from the Caulfield Cup, which is no surprise because he didn’t do much in the race, which is a shame,” Cummings said.
“He got well back in the race and was very flat footed at the 650 (metres) when the sprint went on.
“He’s just doesn’t have that weight for age turn of foot that horses around him had like, Montefilia and Duais have.
“If we can turn him around and resurrect his campaign, it would be good timing because the Melbourne Cup is so close. Perhaps the Lexus Hotham, now known as The Archer, is the right race to have him turn all that around.”
Cummings also spoke about his stable star and Cox Plate winner, Anamoe, and his chances of running in the VRC Champions Stakes on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“I think the horse should run in the Champions Stakes,” he said.
“I think because we have deliberately left another run in the horses arsenal this campaign, being only fourth-up in the Cox Plate, he’s well equipped to handle one more start this prep.”
Online bookmakers have Anamoe as a $2 favourite in the Champions Stakes on November 5, while In Secret is a $4.20 favourite in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on October 29.