Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Could Contemporary back up in the Group 2 Missile Stakes?
Godolphin sprinter Contemporary was headed for the paddock but trainer James Cummings could give him one more start this campaign with the Missile Stakes looming large.
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Trainer James Cummings will give consideration to backing up in-form sprinter Contemporary in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
Contemporary continued his excellent run of recent form at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday with his third victory in four starts this preparation in the Congratulations Chris Waller Benchmark 94 Handicap (1300m).
Cummings had planned to send the smart son of Exceed And Excel for a spell after the triumph but has decided to keep the door open for a crack at Sydney’s first stakes race of the 2024/25 season.
“I will look at the nominations - I was intending on putting him in the paddock but sometimes one more run doesn’t hurt,” Cummings said.
“Considering he is in such super form and it’s now set weights and penalties, it makes it a bit more interesting with an in-form, fit, handicapper type that might get to the next level.
“And it’s going to be a small field so it’s something for me to think about and I don’t think I would run anything of ours from the trials (during the week).”
Contemporary! 🤩
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 3, 2024
Nash gets the cash with a HUGE late run in Race 9 at Rosehill! @JamesCummings88@nashhotpic.twitter.com/joCKF16zqx
Nominations for the Group 2 Missile Stakes will be released on Monday morning.
If Contemporary wasn’t to back up, Cummings has no plans to run any of his spring contenders which will step out at Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Tuesday morning.
Group 1 contenders Zardozi, Tom Kitten, Pericles and Aft Cabin were all scheduled to trial last Friday at Royal Randwick but with those heats postponed until Monday, Cummings made the decision to give the talented quartet a hit out on Tuesday.
Doncaster Mile runner up Pericles is having his second trial this campaign in a 1000m heat while VRC Oaks winner Zardozi and Spring Champion Stakes victor Tom Kitten also appear over 1000m.
“It’s a long spring but it doesn’t hurt to have them ready to go where we feel they are best placed,” Cummings said.
“We are keeping our options open and we will be discussing more about where they go in the coming weeks.”
Monday’s Royal Randwick trials will still feature a number of spring contenders, including Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, Magic Millions hero Storm Boy and classy Group 1 mare Lady Laguna.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
SPRING LEE (race 7)
Don’t drop off the Bjorn Baker-trained mare after she was a beaten favourite on Saturday. She raced without a lot of luck and lost momentum at a crucial juncture in the straight.
ALEAS (race 8)
The Chris Waller-trained galloper did more than enough in his first run for more than a year, coming from last to finish off nicely. He will be better second up but it’s third up where we want to be on.
Williamsburg goes straight to the front and leads the journey! 💪@GRyanRacing@G1TySchilpic.twitter.com/sDjK2FjmXd
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 3, 2024
MUCH MUCH BETTER (race 9)
It was a brave effort from this eye catching grey, which only got run down late by the classy Contemporary. Another good track next start and he’s capable of going one better.
CUBAN ROYALE (race 9)
He’s a 10-year-old now so it’s no secret he’s in the twilight of his career but the Prices look to have him going as well as ever. The old stager hit the line as well as anything on the card and has another win in him soon.
UP AND UNDER (race 10)
The French import looked to have plenty to offer in the last but went to the line hard held with nowhere to go. He is only going to improve as he gets up over further later this preparation.
Secret Plan wins at BIG odds! 💰@MollyBourke7 aboard wins the last at Rosehill for @littracing! pic.twitter.com/VVcWWLoGWw
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 3, 2024
CRUNCH TIME
Dipsy Doodle (race 3): The Godolphin mare had her rivals chasing, running 10.85 seconds between the 1000m and 800m to build a margin at the front. It nearly helped her get away with it after running her last 600m in 34.30.
Giving Delight (race 4): Only had one runner behind her at the top of the straight but was the only horse to run her final 600m in sub 34 seconds. She hit the line 33.81 seconds and was surging late.
Nosey Parker (race 7): A frantic early tempo saw the Paul Perry trained galloper four lengths off the back before rattling home with the fastest final four furlongs of the race. He ran the last 600m in a tidy 33.36 seconds.
Nosey Parker storms home and wins at $26 odds in Race 6 at Rosehill!💰@perry_racing1@TommyBerry21pic.twitter.com/5IwXK3B6c6
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 3, 2024
Cuban Royale (race 9): Didn’t have the clearest passage in the straight and hit the line in a race best 33.59 seconds. His motored late to run the final furlong in 11.39 seconds.
STEWARDS SAY
Point Basse (race 4): Dylan Gibbons advised the entire made an audible respiratory noise pulling up. No abnormalities were found but he will undergo in an endoscopic examination.
Melody Again (race 4): Commenced to hang out from the 800m and ran towards the outside rail in the straight. The mare was found to be 2/5 lame in the off-hind leg and will also need to trial.
Centrestone (race 5): Became awkward in its action and was eased down from the 300m. Found to be 1/5 lame in the off-foreleg and also displaying cardiac arrhythmia.
Unanimous (race 6): Approaching the 800m, the gelding commenced to lose ground and was eased down from the 600m. Was found to be displaying cardiac arrhythmia.
Russian Roni (race 10): Failed to respond with jockey Nash Rawiller feeling his action was awkward. A post-race examination revealed the gelding was 2/5 lame in the near foreleg.
TRACK TALK
“The owners have persevered with him and they made a big call to geld him, he’s got good Group form and he is a very well-bred horse but we might have found another string to his bow,” Gerald Ryan on Williamsburg.
“Dad didn’t race many horses so I am very proud to see those (family) colours win.” Chris Waller after Matusalem’s win.
“Obviously the family takes a bit of time and that’s what has given us the confidence not to panic when she wasn’t showing form early,” Waller on I Am Famous.
“To finish as close to James (McDonald) as I can.” Tommy Berry on his premiership goals.
“She is a nice horse – I haven’t had one like her before.” Cameron Crockett on Lonhro’s Queen.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
R7
There was big money behind favourites Spring Lee and Compelling Truth, but Nosey Parker shocked all by triumphing at the long odds of $26 from the eighth line of betting after opening at $51.
R8
Williamsburg saluted at $7 as second favourite after being backed in from $11. One TAB punter collected over $20,000 after plonking $3000 on the gelding at $7.50.
R9
Contemporary had been heavily backed with good reason. One punter had $10,000 on the James Cummings-trained gelding at $3, while another had $9000 on it to place at $1.50. There was also a $5000 win bet placed at $2.80.
THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Lismore, Moruya
Tuesday: Gundagai, Quirindi
Wednesday: Canterbury Park
Thursday: Newcastle, Moree
Friday: Tuncurry
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Kembla Grange, Casino, Louth
Sunday: Moruya, Wyong
******************************
RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL GARDENS SNAPSHOT
RUN OF THE DAY
It was only a BM 72 but the performance of Medatsu was exceptional.
Considering he was first up at 1500m in a moderately run race making a long sustained run from back in field and fighting them off.
The effort was terrific.
FORGET THEY RAN
It was a horror watch for the supporters of the well fancied Spring Lee.
She was a little on the back foot at the start and from there on in was never balanced finding trouble.
She should have won with any luck at all.
THE BLACK BOOK
Be forgiving of the unplaced effort of Intervarsity.
She is very talented but is still very raw doing a few things wrong.
A Tab Highway win is a mere formality in the future while the stayer Up And Under really captured attention in the last with no clear running and has come back in great shape.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Kerrin McEvoy had a winning double and was seen to advantage dodging trouble getting Matusalem home with a perfect steer.
Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Could Contemporary back up in the Group 2 Missile Stakes?
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