Black Opal Stakes: Young Edward Cummings adds to family legend

Win, lose or draw, history will be made when Edward Cummings, grandson of the legendary Bart Cummings, saddles up his first runner in his own right.

Cummings has chosen the prestigious Black Opal Stakes to make his training debut, opening up the possibility of being a Group-winning trainer on day one of his new career should unraced two-year-old Gin Runner join the likes of Trapeze Artist, Criterion, Spirit Of Kingston and Golden Slipper winner Catbird on the honour roll.

Last year’s winner, Encryption, is trained by Edward’s younger brother James, both sons of Anthony Cummings.

Edward is not fazed to be taking on a Group race with his first runner; indeed Gin Runner was an acceptor for Sunday’s Group 2 ATC Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

“If I have learnt anything from dealing with Dad and Bart, it’s about trying to take the opportunities when they present,’’ Cummings said. “It’s about making sure the horse is going to produce on the right day and you take your chances.’’

To illustrate the point, he said a prime example was his father’s outstanding sprinter Your Song.

“While it’s a slightly different scenario, Your Song is a perfect example of having the right horse on the right day in the right race,’ he said.

“The day that he won the BTC Cup by five lengths beating a star- studded Group 1 field, he was also nominated for a benchmark 85 at Randwick for three-year-olds.’’

Gin Runner is no doubt worthy of being tested against Sunday’s Black Opal hopefuls given his super encouraging trial at Hawkesbury.

PEDRILLE PLAN INTO ACTION WITH FINAL AIM CHAMPIONSHIPS SLOT
Majestic Pedrille probably won’t get a run in Sunday’s Country Championships Qualifier at Tamworth but trainer Mark Schmetzer still has a plan to get her into the $500,000 final next month at Royal Randwick.

She’s the fourth emergency in Sunday’s big race so Schmetzer will run her earlier in the day in a benchmark 66 handicap over 1200m.

But Schmetzer still thinks she’s going good enough to have a crack at the big one at The

Championships.

“She’s got a really good first-up record and hopefully she can win this race then go to the Wild Card where she’ll go equally as good second-up,” he said.

“If she can win both races, she’ll go third-up into the final over 1400m which will be ideal.”

But Majestic Pedrille must win today if she’s a serious Country Championships contender. She’ll be ridden in the fourth race by Mitchell Bell out of barrier two.

She hasn’t run since finishing a close eighth behind the very smart country gallopers Handle The Truth and I Am Capitan in a Highway race at Rosehill Gardens on November 3.

Majestic Pedrille won a lead-up trial over 900m in slick time to get ready for Sunday’s assignment.

“She’s had a couple of jump outs and trial, Schmetzer said.

“She’s as good as what she was this time last preparation when she won first-up by a couple of lengths after sitting three-wide without cover.

“That’s why I was confident she would’ve run 1400m first-up if she got into the qualifier.

“It will still be hard to win this race, though. It’s hard to win races at Showcase meetings.

She’s drawn soft though and Mitchell Bell knows her really well.” The Muswellbrook trainer will also run Sister Joy today in a benchmark 58 handicap over 1000m.

Sister Joy’s never won or placed from seven first-up runs but that’s slightly misleading form because she’s never far off them when fresh. She comes out of barrier one with regular rider Reece Jones on board.

“She won three races last preparation and was very consistent and genuine,’’ Schmetzer said. “Reece rode her well last time in so he gets along with her. She doesn’t have any first-up form and she’ll improve on whatever she does.

“Sister Joy should be ultra-competitive. She’s never far away first-up, though. She does sprint well fresh and she’s a definite each-way hope. She’s looking for some

winter wet tracks.”