Trainer Anthony Cummings, jockey Josh Parr combine with El Castello in 2024 Spring Champion Stakes

Jockey Josh Parr doesn’t agree with the negativity around El Castello running out a strong 2000m in Saturday’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes … and neither does trainer Anthony Cummings, who has the gelding on a Victoria Derby (2500m) path.

They have more than 50 years’ of racing experience between them, their combined total of wins is over 2000 including 33 at Group 1 level and still both men are learning from each other.

The professional relationship between trainer Anthony Cummings and jockey Josh Parr is based primarily on mutual respect and a common goal – to win.

Cummings and Parr will be trying to achieve their shared ambition when they team up with El Castello in the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Both men are chasing their third win in the three-year-old classic, but their first together.

Cummings prepared Hotel Grand (2005) and Teranaba (2006) to win the Spring Champion Stakes while Parr has won the race on Hampton Court (2014) and Shadow Hero (2019).

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Parr gave an insight into his relationship with Cummings after riding El Castello to win the Gloaming Stakes two weeks ago.

This writer was right next to both men – probably too close – when Parr said to Cummings: “I’ve got two points to raise with you.

“He’s done exactly what we thought he would after his gallop earlier in the week and won in style.

“The other thing is, and we will talk about it, he doesn’t need much more.’’

Racenet’s Ray Thomas (right) listens to the post-Gloaming conversation between jockey Josh Parr (left) and trainer Anthony Cummings. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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When reminded of the conversation this week, Cummings said he wanted and welcomed Parr’s feedback.

“I suppose you want to take in all the information you can,’’ Cummings said.

“As a trainer I like to get as much information as possible and Josh’s feedback is very valuable. He has been part of the decision-making with this horse.’’

Parr said he enjoys working closely with a trainer to finetune a racehorse’s preparation.

“Anthony is an extremely experienced trainer and has won this race a couple of times before so he knows how to get it done,’’ Parr said.

“But I feel it is important for a jockey and trainer to work together harmoniously.

“Often there is an opinion in the industry that people like to keep each other on their toes but I don’t necessarily agree with that.

“I feel I ride my best when I am working with a trainer or trainers where we are both trying to achieve the same result.

“More importantly, along the way, neither me nor the trainer will abandon ship!”

Under the watchful eye of Cummings, Parr put El Castello through his paces at Randwick trackwork on Tuesday morning.

“I let him gallop, gave him a nice sound out to make sure he is ready for the 2000m assignment on Saturday,’’ Parr said.

“He gave me every indication he is ready for it. He pulled up well without having a massive blow, he seems in really good shape.’’

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Cummings also believes El Castello has had the perfect preparation for the Spring Champion Stakes.

The trainer said El Castello’s spring campaign had gone to plan, leaving him calm and relaxed on big-race eve – but isn’t he always?

Cummings’ demeanour never seems to change even though he is dealing with pressure on two fronts – preparing a leading Group 1 contender while also having Racing NSW continue an investigation into the trainer’s finances.

“Sometimes you don’t have any choice,’’ Cummings said when asked how he was dealing with the scrutiny.

“There are different things you think about along the way but I just try to get it right as often as I can and then we will see what comes of it.’’

Cummings met with Racing NSW stewards earlier this week after being issued with a “show cause” notice when his business, Rosscarbery Holdings, went into administration.

“We had the meeting and they requested some more information then hopefully it will be OK,’’ he said.

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Cummings said plans to form a training partnership with his son, Edward, remain on hold.

“I think they (Racing NSW) will sort this out first and then they will get onto the other thing but it shouldn’t be too far away,’’ the trainer added.

El Castello has put Cummings back into the headlines for all the right reasons this spring. The colt has burst onto the scene like a comet, winning his maiden first-up at Warwick Farm, then taking out a Midway before his impressive win in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

Cummings said six-start veteran El Castello finally showed in the Gloaming Stakes that the colt was learning how to be a racehorse.

“It was the first time he had the confidence to race his own way and he had the time of his life,’’ Cummings said.

“Horses seem to understand when they win, they take confidence from the repetition, they learn by rote, and watching him winning and enjoying himself was quite something.

“The Gloaming did what it was designed to do which was to improve him and have him ready for the Spring Champion.

“The best he has looked all preparation was the next day, the race really brought him on.’’

El Castello strings together three wins in a row and wins the G3 TAB Gloaming Stakes for Josh Parr and @ACummingsracing!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/yj5en5VxT3

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

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Parr has ridden El Castello in two of his three wins including the Gloaming Stakes this spring and agreed with Cummings that the three-year-old demonstrated more race nous last start.

In previous starts, El Castello had forged to the front then seemed to be “waiting” for challenges but last start he burst away from the chasing pack to win with authority.

“We had contemplated taking the blinkers off as we didn’t want to get to a big race with him being in front and waiting for another horse coming at him only for them to get to us in the shadows of the post when it would be too late for him to respond,’’ Parr said.

“But the natural progression of this horse is that he has developed that know-how to put a race away which was really nice to see.’’

El Castello, which means “the castle” in Spanish, is out to avenge his sire Castelvecchio’s second placing in the 2019 Spring Champion Stakes, ironically behind the Parr-ridden Shadow Hero.

The sudden emergence of El Castello this spring has taken some by surprise – but not Cummings.

The trainer had identified El Castello’s latent talent during the colt’s juvenile season which included a second placing to superstar colt Broadsiding in the Fernhill Handicap.

"He'll improve off this."

El Castello as a winner of the TAB Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill, here’s what @ACummingsracing and Josh Parr said after the win!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/vKP7Ha4lMw

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

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“To give you an idea, the last member of his family that I’m aware of that ran in the Fernhill Handicap and went as well was Fiveandahalfstar,’’ Cummings said.

“So, for this guy to turn up and do better than that horse in the Fernhill then get to the Spring Champion Stakes is not a surprise.’’

Cummings trained Fiveandahalfstar to win the 2012 Victoria Derby and 2013 The BMW (now Tancred Stakes) Group 1 double.

Fiveandahalfstar, who was by another Cummings-trained dual Group 1-winning three-year-old, Hotel Grand, is out of Cryptic Miss, the grandam of El Castello.

“We never saw the best of Hotel Grand or Fiveandahalfstar,’’ Cummings said. “Rosehill was the nemesis for both.’’

Hotel Grand did his suspensory ligament in the 2006 Rosehill Guineas won by De Beers and never raced again while Fiveandahalfstar suffered a twisted fetlock when he won the 2013 The BMW (now Tancred Stakes)

Fiveandahalfstar made a comeback two years later but ran unplaced in four starts and was eventually retired.

Cummings had a huge opinion of both horses, but particularly Hotel Grand.

“Hotel Grand could have been anything,’’ Cummings said of the dual Group 1 winner.

“He was a weight-for-age horse every step of the way. From 1400m to 2200m, he was jet-propelled.

“But I think El Castello is better than Fiveandahalfstar as he is more adaptable over the shorter trips.

“Fiveandahalfstar got there but as an autumn three-year-old and worked his way into form with a string of seconds before he won The BMW but El Castello does have more natural speed.’’

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El Castello is the $3.90 second favourite with TAB Fixed Odds behind the Team Hawkes-trained Swiftfalcon at $3.50 for the Spring Champion Stakes.

Parr doesn’t agree with some negativity about El Castello at 2000m but understood why Swiftfalcon was the early favourite despite finishing second, beaten two lengths, in the Gloaming Stakes.

“I’m surprised to hear there are any concerns about El Castello at 2000m because he was very strong in the Gloaming,’’ Parr said.

“But the fact that Swiftfalcon is favourite doesn’t surprise me all that much. It’s so typical of how many people view races – they are always looking for the horse that is flashing home.

“If you look at a case like Pride Of Jenni, she does all the hard-work and does a gut-buster every time to hold on and win but if something is charging home from the back that has done no work at any point of the race everyone wants to say ‘oh, wow did you see that’.

“I’m not surprised that is the case but to me it doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense.’’

Cummings also dismissed any stamina issue with El Castello and revealed plans to back up with the colt in the Group 1 Victoria Derby over 2500m at Flemington next week.

“El Castello will stay, that is one thing we don’t have to worry about,’’ the trainer said. “My jockey is happy, I’m happy, we wouldn’t change a thing with his preparation – it’s up to the horse now.’’

Originally published as Trainer Anthony Cummings, jockey Josh Parr combine with El Castello in 2024 Spring Champion Stakes