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Herald Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Trainer James Cummings has a slew of chances at Randwick
Cummings will also saddle up Contemporary, Pereille and Razors in the Randwick closer with all four of the stable's sprinters prominent in TAB Fixed Odds betting. But Kerguelen is the $2.40 favourite even though the promising gelding is only third emergency and needs another scratching to gain a start. 'Kerguelen's going really well and it would be nice to get him into the race carrying 52kg,'' Cummings said. 'For a horse on the rise that is a great recipe.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! A five-year-old son of former champion racehorse and sire Lonhro, Kerguelen has only been to the races six times for three wins and three seconds. But Kerguelen resumed with a strong win over the talented Brave One at Rosehill and drops 5.5kg for the Randwick sprint, albeit he is up sharply grade. 'We have been so patient with this horse,'' Cummings said. 'Although we have always held him in high regard, he's needed time to mature and I would like to think our patience will be rewarded now. 'This might be one of the drier tracks he's raced on but he's going along so sweetly and is a chance to rocket through his grades.'' • EXPERT TIPS: Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday Kerguelen is the pick of the Godolphin quartet and the $2.40 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds with his stablemates Razors at $9, Pereille $9.50 and Contemporary at $11. Razors was twice stakes-placed as a three-year-old but hasn't raced for 12 months. Cummings has given the gelding two recent barrier trials to ready him for a Randwick return. 'I thought it was good work from Razors the other day in his trial and he's coming into this race looking pretty athletic for a horse coming off a long break,'' he said. Pereille ran fourth behind Headley Grange in a strong form race at Randwick last start and Cummings feels the sprinter is at his peak after two runs from a spell. 'He is going well and has come on from that last run,'' Cummings said. 'This does look a suitable race for him.'' • Ray & Duff's Randwick tips: Punters should plan their Exit on Saturday Topweight Contemporary has to shoulder 59kg after apprentice Benjamin Osmond's 2kg claim but his second-up effort when third to In Flight in the Listed Bob Charley Stakes is very good form for the Randwick closer. 'Contemporary is knocking on the door and is ready to win,'' Cummings said. 'He is up there where it hurts in the ratings but that is offset with the claim and he should be very strong late in the race.'' Cummings, who will take a break from training at the end of next month before moving to Hong Kong for the 2026-27 season, also has three-year-old fillies Amusing and Glorioso entered for the Quayclean Handicap (1300m) although the trainer hinted only the former was a certain starter. 'I like the look of Amusing, her trials have been good and I'm happy for her to go back to the races,'' he said. 'Glorioso won last start (Gosford) but I'm just considering the options with her, we might even wait for Wednesday (Kensington.'' • Saturday Market Movers: Feature race favourite $3 to $2.40 Cummings also has chances interstate with Kin contesting the Listed $160,000 Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich while boom two-year-old Observer lines up in the TAB We're On (1420m) at Flemington. 'Kin has a lovely barrier (two) at Ipswich she should be able to be ridden to her strengths,'' the trainer said. 'As for Observer, there is a lot to like about that horse. He was stylish winning last start (by five lengths at Sandown), he has come a long way and will only get better.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Hooligan Tommy 'right in the race' Hooligan Tommy, part-owned by NRL legend Greg Alexander, can continue his form surge in the Midway Handicap (1600m). The John Sargent-trained Hooligan Tommy has won two of his five starts this campaign including his dominant effort at Kembla Grange last start by more than three lengths under 60.5kg. Tough four-year-old Hooligan Tommy drops to 58kg and is at $8.50 behind Callistemon at $3.40. 'Hooligan Tommy is on top of his game and is right in the race,'' Sargent said. 'He is better on a firmer track which he will get on Saturday, and a good, hard run mile will suit him. He's worked well during the week and looks great in the coat.'' Hooligan Tommy seems to have found his niche race distance around 1600m after being tried as a stayer last season when he ran unplaced behind Riff Rocket and Ceolwulf in the ATC Australian Derby. Sargent also ran Glad You Think So in that Derby with the gelding finishing a very game third in the prestigious Group 1 classic. Glad You Think So hasn't lived up to that promise since but Sargent is optimistic the stayer can find something like his best form this winter, starting with a comeback run in the Traffic Warden At Darley Handicap (1400m). • Racing Confidential: The tribute to Gai that's fit for a Queen 'He had a so-so campaign last time but I think he's come back in very good order this time,'' Sargent said. 'I think he will sprint well fresh. Although he will get back a bit, as long as he is hitting the line I will know he is on the right track.'' Meanwhile, Sargent has sent emerging filly Bearings interstate for the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington. Sargent was hoping to get Bearings to the Queensland Oaks but the filly failed to qualify despite consistent results this campaign including wins at Goulburn and Newcastle. 'Bearings has gone to Melbourne as this looks a nice race for her with good prizemoney,'' Sargent said. 'She does gets back in her races so hopefully they run along because she will be hitting the line.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Hopper ready to Medal at Randwick The winning form of Mickey's Medal has given trainer Peter Snowden added confidence Hopper will be hard to beat in the QMS Media Handicap (1600m). Hopper, a son of former super sire Snitzel, made a race of it with Mickey's Medal at Rosehill three weeks ago, finishing a close second. Mickey's Medal then franked the form by winning again at Rosehill last Saturday. 'The form around Hopper is good, it's always nice to see the form hold up,'' Snowden said. 'The Randwick race sets up well for Hopper. He's drawn a nice gate and should get his chance.''
Herald Sun
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Randwick-Kensington preview: Strong hand has Ciaron Maher in box seat
The Ciaron Maher stable have a three-pronged attack in the Maiden Plate including two in the market but assistant Sydney trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord isn't dismissing the roughie of the trio. She Rex heads the stable's charge at the $4.80 second favourite with TAB Fixed Odds behind Charleroi ($2.40) while So Long Farewell is at $8.50 and Cheeky Dancer is the outsider of the field at $31. She Rex has placed in each of her five career starts and is looking to atone for her last start third as a $2 favourite when third behind Convergent over this track and distance. 'First-up this time was good behind Engine Room and we had the Kensington race as a target because it had an Inglis bonus,' Gerard-Dubord said. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'She found the front but probably could have gone a bit quicker. The horses from the back got momentum on her and she isn't a filly with much of a turn of foot. 'We have Tim Clark back on her who will suit her. He's very good at rating them in front. 'Hopefully she can get that maiden win out of the way shortly.' So Long Farewell ran well on debut when fourth behind Maori Chief over 1250m here three weeks ago. The son of Super Seth will take plenty of benefit from the experience and will appreciate stepping up in trip. 'We used that as a starting point for him and he ran a nice race,' he said. 'He was a bit new considering he was there off one trial. 'When they quickened, it took him a bit of time to pick up but the last bit of his race was very good. 'Jason (Collett) was very positive in his feedback and was keen to stick with him which is a good sign.' Cheeky Dancer may have been beaten at Tamworth last start but was unlucky when going down by a nose. Prior to that, she worked home well for third behind Pelosa over 1300m at Hawkesbury. 'She had a few issues as a young horse before we got her which is why she hasn't race until now as a four-year-old, said Gerard-Dubord. 'We took her to Tamworth because it was a good prizemoney race. 'When she got out, she got a bump and was only just beaten. 'We are happy with her and she deserves her chance here.' The stable also has three two-year-olds looking to book a trip to Queensland for the winter carnival. Ripley and Jenni Gone Bonkers contest the first division of the two-year-old handicap, the Schweppes Handicap (1400m). Ripley debited with a handy third behind Secure over 1100m at Canterbury on April 21. 'He was very good on a tight track and the 1100m was probably a bit sharp for him,' said Gerard-Dubord. 'Stepping up in trip will be a big positive. That is what he is looking for. 'The give in the track will be no issue to him, the only problem is the barrier. It's a little bit tricky.' Jenni Gone Bonkers was last of six behind Buffalo in a strong 1200m maiden at Newcastle first-up before a half-length second to Just A Journey at Kembla. 'She was very good last start. The winner controlled the race in front and she kept grinding to the line and just missed,' he said. 'She has drawn well and we are very happy with her.' Agent Zero can improve off his debut fifth behind Miss Freelove at Canterbury when he steps out in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap. 'He is a horse we like but he is still learning and still switching on,' he said. 'He will appreciate the step up in trip.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Randwick trainer Craig Carmody is enjoying a career best season and can take a step closer a personal milestone with Sizzler on his home turf. Carmody has a boutique training operation with between 10 and 12 horses in work and has already prepared 10 winners this season at a strike rate of 14.5 per cent along with along with a further 16 placings from 69 runners. Five of those winners have come from his last starters with Sizzler providing two wins which has taken Carmody to 96 career winners. 'It's been a really good season. We are trying to place them to advantage and make the most of every opportunity,' said Carmody. 'I've got a fantastic team of staff, a couple of really good riders and the horses are all very happy. Hopefully it continues.' Sizzler ended last campaign with a Class 2 win at Goulburn and has gone to a new level this preparation with two good wins in Benchmark 68 races at Kembla, the latest by two lengths form Presides on April 19. The five-year-old looks a good chance in the Ole Kirk @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1250m) and moving Carmody a step closer to his 100th career winner. 'I'm really happy with the horse. He has really got his act together and has got a bit of confidence,' Carmody said. 'The races have been set up nicely for him. He's drawn decent barriers and had a nice run off the speed but his acceleration has been really good. 'All the way along, he has been quite an effective horse. 'He was unlucky not to have won on town before. A couple of times in his three-year-old year he was unlucky a few times. 'My only query is the wet track. When you look through his form, he doesn't have the best record on wet ground. 'The track was still quite wet on Tuesday morning but I'm hoping it can improve. 'They will gallop a horse on it at 6.30 on Wednesday morning so I will see how the track is before deciding if he runs or I want until Warwick Farm next week. 'I'm trying to be a bit picky because he is going so well and I want everything to be perfect. It would be lovely to see him win one in town.'
