James Cumming confident Zeitung has one more run left in her for Group 1 Thousand Guineas

A soft win on Derby Day encouraged James Cummings to give Zeitung one more start this spring in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings says Group 3 winner Zeitung is “worthy of a chance” at the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Zeitung “never looked like losing” the Group 3 Vanity a fortnight ago at Flemington, surging past Thousand Guineas rival Matisse over the concluding stages for a soft win.

The three-year-old daughter of Exceed And Excel was runner-up in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude the start before.

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“It’s a great challenge for Zeitung, she’s done everything right to get here,” Cummings said.

“You couldn’t argue that she’s not deserving of her place, because she was so strong at the finish of the seven-furlong Vanity on Derby Day.

“Mark Zahra was most impressed with her and, keep in mind, she drew an inside gate that day and was a little slow away.

“When hooked to the outside she never looked like losing.”

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Aeliana is a $3.40 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Thousand Guineas from Zeitung ($4), Lovelycut ($11), Stage ‘N’ Screen ($12), Geegees Mistruth ($13) and Benagil ($13).

“This is a great test, Group 1 at set weights up to 1600m being a slender filly by Exceed And Excel,” Cummings said.

“She’s out of a Shamardal mare and I think the horse is worthy of a chance to see if she can get the strong mile.”

Jamie Kah riding Zeitung alongside stablemate Kin at Caulfield this week in preparation for the Thousand Guineas on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Zeitung has a nice barrier to help her cause and jockey Jamie Kah aboard, with Zahra riding Matisse for Anthony and Sam Freedman.

“Jamie can afford her an economical run in transit and make full use of her turn of foot,” Cummings said.

“I’d like to think she’s got enough bottom left in her at the end of a long campaign to fend off those challengers that are going to be coming from the back.

“We will back our judgment and at the very least, even if there is a question mark, give her the opportunity to contest a Group 1 at this late stage of her spring.”

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Zeitung will head straight to the paddock after Saturday to rest and prepare for the autumn.

Cummings has three other runners at Caulfield on Saturday, including Pisces in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes and Kin in the Listed Village Stakes (1100m).

Kin has finished top three in six of nine starts at Caulfield, including two wins.

“It’s perhaps not quite a vintage Village Stakes and she’s only a couple of kilos out of the handicaps … I’d foresee Kin running a race here,” Cummings said.

“She’s a mare who has shown some talent, so we’ve placed faith in her by keeping her in training and it would be a nice reward.”

Originally published as James Cumming confident Zeitung has one more run left in her for Group 1 Thousand Guineas