Weekly trainer quotes

James Cummings discusses Saturdays runners with Dave Stanley on Racing HQ - Saturday, 22 February 2025

CAULFIELD

12:15   World Pool Handicap   (F&M)     (1,100m) 
TONKIN (AUS) - 3YO Filly by Blue Point (IRE) out of Gridelin (AUS)
Anthony & Sam Freedman (Quotes from Sam), Jockey – Craig Williams, 54kgs, barrier: 3
“A really nice filly and showing really nice promise.”
“She’s been really impressive this preparation and hopefully continues on that upward trajectory.” 

13:55    Zeditave Stakes-Group 3  (3yo SWP)       (1,200m) 
POLYGLOT (AUS) - 3YO Horse by Lonhro (AUS) out of Wordcraft (GB)
James Cummings, Jockey – Ben Melham, 56kgs, barrier: 4
“We did dual accept and he was nicely in the handicap (Rosehill), but the Zedative was a hard race to resist.”
“With the blinkers on and keeping him at six furlongs, he should acquit himself well in that race.”

15:40    Futurity Stakes-Group 1  (WFA)          (1,400m) 
PERICLES (AUS) - 5YO Horse by Street Boss (USA) out of Accessories (GB)
James Cummings, Jockey – Blake Shinn, 59kgs, barrier: 1
“He’s been to Caulfield already and Blake has a good association with the horse.”
“He’s a reliable horse and he’s going to turn up and run a good race.”
“He hasn’t cracked it at G1 level in 10 goes yet, but one of these days just could be his day.”
“Some of the best he comes up against, if they have an off day, he’s going to be there ready to capitalise.”

TOM KITTEN (AUS) - 4YO Horse by Harry Angel (IRE) out of Transfers (AUS)
James Cummings, Jockey – Ben Melham, 59kgs, barrier: 2
“I think he’s still on the up, that horse.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the form from the Golden Eagle, it’s already produced two individual G1 winners.”
“He was the first Australian horse home in that race.”
“So keep an eye out for this horse to run well.”
“He hasn’t had a chance to look around Caulfield yet, but the inner draw was valuable to him and Ben Melham should be able to enjoy run-of-the-race stuff with him.”
“Whilst he comes up against tough opposition here, he’s ready to acquit himself well.”
“We’ve got options, we’ve got the chance to run the horse in the All-Star Mile if he were able to run really well in the Futurity.”
“I could bring him back for the George Ryder, and he’s really one of our leading contestants for the Doncaster at the moment.”
“That could be a target race for him to come for, so that’s essentially what he’s gearing up for at the moment.”

16:15   Blue Diamond Stakes-Group 1  (2yo SW)       (1,200m) 
TEMPTED (AUS) - 2YO Filly by Street Boss (USA) out of Calliope (AUS)
James Cummings, Jockey – Craig Williams, 55kgs, barrier: 12
“Tempted went very well in the Widden, she drew the wide barrier and got left with a lot to do on a day when it was advantageous to be up near the lead and on the rail.”
“Coming out of a race like that, where the pace was solid all the way, she’ll have been improved by that.”
“I think it’s a good lead-up for the Blue Diamond and I think it gives her every opportunity to be seasoned enough to be tackling those horses in this early G1.”
“She’s well respected in that Blue Diamond market after being narrowly beaten in a Widden.”
“She’s shaping as a pretty promising two-year-old for our team, if she can come through the Blue Diamond.”
“She’s got a great demeanour and she’s the type of filly who could cope with that assignment.”

TENTYRIS (AUS) - 2YO Colt by Street Boss (USA) out of Deity (AUS)
Anthony & Sam Freedman (Quotes from Sam), Jockey – Damian Lane, 57kgs, barrier: 4
“He pulled up super and has had an excellent week.”
“All the signs you look for when they are backing up, we’ve seen them this week.”
“He should put up a very good run.”
“He was the ultimate pro at Flemington, paraded brilliantly.”
“He was very settled in the stalls after being very fresh at his first run.
“I think it brought him on and we saw the real horse last week.”
“He’s gone better at his second start, which you need to when you go to a race like this.”
“But we really do believe that he’s probably going to run a peak performance.”
“He’s got tactical speed so Damian will just begin, squeeze and work out the pace.”
“He’s capable of putting himself in the firing line and fending them off.”
“He’s not that dissimilar to Daumier (2022 Blue Diamond winner).”
“Daumier showed really good fight to fend them off from either side in the Preview.”
“In the Diamond, he did the same thing when they came to him, he fought them off.”
“I liked the other day he didn’t shirk his task to run down that other horse, who was a lot more seasoned with more runs on the board.”
“He was up for the challenge and I think on Saturday you’ll see the type of horse who really enjoys the hustle and bustle of things happening round him.”
“It’s usually a very good sign for a young colt.”

ROSEHILL GARDENS

15:25   Silver Slipper Stakes-Group 2  (2yo SW)       (1,100m) 
BEIWACHT (AUS) - 2YO Colt by Bivouac (AUS) out of Metastasio (AUS)
James Cummings, Jockey – Adam Hyeronimus, 56.5kgs, barrier: 7
“He was only beaten a little over three lengths on debut on the 25th (January) and nothing went right for him.”
“We kept the faith and we pressed on to the harder race.”
“He bumped into a horse who just went a bit better than him, but he got back on the right path and turned a negative into a positive.”
“If he can keep improving, I can see him mixing it with these horses.”
“But there’s no doubt he’s coming up against some quality two-year-olds here and he’s going to really need to lift to win this race.”
“To see him competitive against these horses should set him up well for assignments down the track.”

16:35   Hobartville Stakes-Group 2  (3yo SW)       (1,400m) 
BROADSIDING (AUS) - 3YO Colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) out of Speedway (AUS)
James Cummings, Jockey – Zac Lloyd, 56.5kgs, barrier: 8
“We are eager in anticipation for his return for this carnival.”
“The Hobartville is a beautiful kick-off point for him over seven furlongs at Rosehill.”
“He’ll be comfortable in this race and it should provide him with the perfect launching pad in his campaign.”
“I like the way he’s gone about his preliminaries, he’s forward and feeling good.”
“He’s spot-on for this run and, while there’s improvement in him, I think everyone will be impressed when they see him parade on the weekend.”
“He means business and he’ll be there to run very well.”
“I’ve got a good feeling about how he’s going.”
“I’m really confident that he’s come back well and yet there’s nothing like race day for that to be the ultimate test.”
“As a champion two-year-old to come back and win a Golden Rose first-up, it takes a pretty good animal to do something like that.”
“His next assignment is to prove he can still be at that level in the autumn as a three-year-old.”
“We are anticipating that he’s come back in top order, and he’s got even more opportunity to assert his reputation and build on it as a three-time G1-winning colt.”
“I’ve got the first few steps on the path worked out, but we’ll get through the Randwick Guineas at least before we lock in our next move.”
“We are dealing with a versatile horse; I could keep him to his own age or I could also keep him to 1,500m-1,600m, races like the George Ryder, the Doncaster and the All Aged.
“I think we’ve got options with a versatile colt and, with his stud value in mind, whilst it’s important to win G1s, it’s also advantageous to demonstrate the pace that he’s got, that impressive closing speed.”
“When it’s all said and done, I’ll actually stay in Sydney despite having horses in G1s in Melbourne.”
“He’s a very important horse to stay on top of and I’d love to see the way he starts his preparation in person.”