Tough test for improving Avilius

A Melbourne Cup berth is on the line when the former French-trained runner Avilius attempts to maintain his faultless Australian record in Saturday’s G3 Bart Cummings at Flemington.

With places in the 24-horse Cup field certain to be at a premium, the automatic entry gained by the Bart Cummings winner will be the most hotly contested prize on a card that includes the appearance of Winx in the G1 Turnbull Stakes.

Avilius (Glyn Schofield) has enhanced his reputation at each of his three Australian runs, commencing with his victory in a benchmark 91 race at Randwick on 4 August.

That was the five-year-old’s first run in almost a year, and he demonstrated the improvement he’d gained from it with brilliant wins at G3-level at his next two starts.

Avilius had won two races in France, where he was trained for Godolphin by Andre Fabre, and had also run a fine second at G2 level behind the G1 performer Cracksman.

His new trainer James Cummings has been impressed enough to enter Avilius for the biggest races of the Australian spring, including the G1 Melbourne Cup.

“This is his toughest challenge in Australia, he has 58.5kg and is coming up against better horses all the time,” Cummings said.

But Cummings also believes Avilius can rise to the challenge.

“Avilius has enjoyed a good three weeks since his last run in the Kingston Town Stakes and is primed for this race.”

“He still seems full of energy the deeper he’s got into his preparation.”

Avilius will be opposed by a strong, mainly international, contingent in the Bart Cummings with horses like Harrison and Our Venice Beach along with the Japanese-bred Hush Writer, who was previously trained in France and has been placed at his past two Australian starts.