Bart wishes on star duo

THE maestro Bart Cummings wouldn’t mind having either It’s A Dundeel or Atlantic Jewel in his stable this spring.

Precedence

THE maestro Bart Cummings wouldn’t mind having either It’s A Dundeel or Atlantic Jewel in his stable this spring.

Cummings, like most race fans, was impressed by the titanic struggle between the star duo in the Underwood Stakes where It’s A Dundeel ended the mare’s unbeaten streak in a thrilling finish.

"It was a great race, pretty close on the line," Cummings said.

"They are both very good horses and will be hard to beat in anything this spring. I’d like to train either horse, but good luck to the blokes who have them."
Despite her first loss in 10 starts, Atlantic Jewel remains favourite for the $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley although she has eased to $3 with TAB Fixed Odds while It’s A Dundeel has firmed into $3.70.

"The Underwood Stakes is always a good (form) race for the spring," Cummings continued.

" So You Think won the Underwood win three years ago and then won another Cox Pate — he’d still be winning if he was racing today."

Cummings, who trains in partnership these days with his grandson James, lost his main spring carnival hope when Norzita suffered a leg injury in trackwork earlier this month.

The Hall of Fame trainer’s chances of winning a 13th Melbourne Cup this spring rests solely with veteran stayer Precedence.

Precedence, who has finished eighth, 11th and ninth in the last three Melbourne Cups, resumed at Caulfield last Saturday and finished well back behind Out Of Coober.

"He went `reasonable’ I suppose," Cummings said. "I don’t know about the Melbourne Cup this spring but if he good enough, he will make the field."

Cummings has only one entry for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday with talented colt Eurozone to line up in the Group 2 $250,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m).

Eurozone, winner of the Listed Rosebud last month, ran well for sixth in the Golden Rose last start but Cummings hinted the colt is likely to be spelled after Saturday’s race rather than continue in training for the Caulfield Guineas next month.

The Stan Fox has attracted nine early entries including Gai Waterhouse’s in-form Aussies Love Sport and the talented David Payne-trained Criterion and the emerging Stamina.

There are 19 entries for the other feature three-year-old race, the Group 3 $200,000 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) which features a clash between Anthony Cummings’s boom young stayer Drago and the promising Savvy Nature, a last start Spring Stakes winner at Newcastle.

Waterhouse has four nominations for the Group 2 $175,000 Shannon Stakes (1500m) in Ashokan, Our Desert Warrior, Rain Drum and Spurtonic.

She has entered Julienas and Reuben Percival for the Group 3 $125,000 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) and last start Sheraco Stakes winner Driefontein for the Group 3 $250,000 Golden Pendant (1400m).