Anthony Cummings confident the drop in distance will be the key to Street Dancer in Bondi Stakes
Prime Star has firmed for the Bondi Stakes but trainer Anthony Cummings feels his outsider Street Dancer is capable of springing a surprise in the $1m race.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Prime Star has firmed for the $1 million Bondi Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, while Peltzer took a little drift despite drawing better on Wednesday.
The Inglis Millennium winner came in from $4.60 to $4.20 after getting barrier eight, while Peltzer drifted a little from $2.90 to $3 after drawing gate six with Tim Clark on aboard again. However, Anthony Cummings feels Street Dancer might be too good for them off recent runs over 1800m and 2000m.
“The 2000m probably found him out last time,” he said. “The way the race unfolded wasn’t kind to him. His run before that was excellent and coming back to the mile is really going to suit him.”
Dropping horses back from 2000m to the Randwick mile has proved to be an excellent formula during the past decade.
Street Dancer is an on-pacer who is going to give a good sight and prove tough to get past at decent odds. The TAB had him at $26 on Wednesday.
“He’ll be up in a handy spot and he’s used that to great effect,” Cummings said. “He’s going to be strong at the mile and you can’t say that about all of them.”
Stablemate Red Stiletto will also run in the race on Saturday and her preparation has been totally different. She’s had a trial over 1030m since running in a hot Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) behind Wild Ruler a fortnight ago.
“She made a bit of a meal at the start last time and that cost her but stepping up to the mile, with a trial in the meantime, we’ll put a barrier blanket on her and she’ll be effective after her Tuesday work,” Cummings said.
“I think she raced like she wanted a mile last time so I’m happy to go along with that and see what she does.”
Cummings said his star mare Libertini needed a harder track in last week’s The Everest when she ran eighth to Classique Legend. She will either run next week in the Yes Yes Yes Stakes (1200m) or head down to Melbourne for the Darley Classic.
“The ground on the day wasn’t firm enough for her. Regan (Bayliss) didn’t think she was comfortable on that ground,” Cummings said.
In further wash up from The Everest, Michael Moroney said Tofane had excuses when running ninth.
“She wasn’t getting all her air,” he said. “She ran on late, but very late. She never really let down when he asked her to go and on pulling up she was making a gurgling noise like she swallowed her tongue or did something stupid.
“The thick smoke in the air could have had something to do with it.”
MORE RACING
Berry lands Star role after jockey shake up
Hawkes: How to make The Everest, Caulfield Cup even greater
Originally published as Anthony Cummings confident the drop in distance will be the key to Street Dancer in Bondi Stakes