Anthony Cummings says thoughts of more Victoria Derby Thunder no Fantasy

ANTHONY Cummings has similar Victoria Derby vibes to 12 months ago and is talking up the possibility of another shock result tomorrow.

Drago was nominal favourite for this race two months ago, but has fallen right out of favour after seemingly struggling at 2000m

ANTHONY Cummings, the king of the Group 1 upset, has similar Victoria Derby vibes to 12 months ago and is talking up the possibility of another shock with either Drago or Thunder Fantasy tomorrow.

"That's certainly the plan. It's been the plan for a while," he said.

It was only 12 months ago Cummings surprised many by taking Fiveandahalfstar off a restricted Sydney win, bringing him to Melbourne seven days later and winning the Derby.

Typical of a Cummings Group 1 contestant, he started big odds.

Yet he was a dominant winner.

So was the trainer confident or hopeful of success that day?

"Somewhere halfway between."

Today, he has doubled his Derby presence, with the once fancied Drago joined by Thunder Fantasy. Just like Fiveandahalfstar, both have been snubbed by the market place.

Is Cummings more confident this time around?

"Not dissimilar," he says.

"I'm going there, knowing I have a good horse, knowing they're fit and ready and you just wait for the breaks to go your way in the race."

Drago was nominal favourite for this race two months ago, but has fallen right out of favour after seemingly struggling at 2000m in his past two runs.

Predictably, Cummings sees it differently and can find plenty of merit in both runs, with his greater concern being barrier 18.

He described last week's fifth in the Vase as "still a Derby winning performance, albeit in bad clothes."

Drago was nominal favourite for this race two months ago, but has fallen right out of favour after seemingly struggling at 2000m

"He walked out of the gates, then got a dig in the ribs, took off and went through the field. He was going too quick into the first turn and couldn't get around it.

"From there the dye was pretty much cast. At that speed, you don't win. Yet he was still there at the turn and still gave a kick. You have to be happy with the horse's performance.

"He hasn't disappointed me at all. I've been really pleased with all of his runs and got close to what I expected of him each time.

"He's been the favourite for six months and now he's a $31 chance. Well it's the same horse and he's still looking for his 2500m and he's still in good form."

Cummings said Thunder Fantasy has had no luck since an awesome win at Newcastle, where he ran only slightly slower time than Savvy Nature, but clearly superior sectionals.

"You would have to say he's in with a chance off the back of that," Cummings said.

"He was entitled to drop out in the Dulcify when he went forward and faced the breeze, but he battled on.

"Then off a bad draw in the Champion Stakes he got back and ran on well in what was a leader dominated race.

"He settled into Melbourne really well and looks great. The gallop last week was excellent, the gallop (Tuesday) was excellent and he goes in as a live chance."

Cummings said Fiveandahalfstar is on target for an autumn return after spending a month in the stable recently.