Randwick Inside Mail: Trainer James Cummings oozes confidence with 2024 The Everest hope Traffic Warden

Ray Thomas presents his best bets, sectional stars and market movers ahead of The Everest Day at Royal Randwick, where James Cummings thinks nothing can stop Traffic.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is sending only three runners to Royal Randwick but is hoping to take home the two Group 1 trophies on Everest Day.

Cummings has crack colt Traffic Warden in the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) and tough duo Pericles and Tom Kitten in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m).

Traffic Warden, winner of the Run To The Rose and a close second to stablemate Broadsiding in the Group 1 Golden Rose in two runs this spring, has been deliberately set for The Everest and could not be any better, according to Cummings.

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“He’ll arrive ready to run one of the races of his preparation, third-up from a spell,” Cummings said.

“What we love about this horse is that we have not seen him fail to improve every time he’s gone to the track.

“That’s a good sign for an up-and-coming three-year-old tackling these horses at weight-for-age in the hardest sprint race of the year.”

Cummings said three-year-olds had a good record in weight-for-age races this year and also in The Everest with wins from Giga Kick (2022) and Yes Yes Yes (2019).

• EXPERT TIPS: James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Everest Day

“When it comes down to it, Traffic Warden is going to need to go to that next level,’’ Cummings said. “But he’s been like a bull at a gate, ready to run a big race.

“I haven’t seen the horse go better. I think he’s capable of going better again, I’ve felt for a while we hadn’t seen the best of the horse and he could run the race of his career.”

Cummings has Pericles on the quick back-up from his fourth in the Hill Stakes last week and the trainer believes Tom Kitten will enjoy the fast pace created by Pride Of Jenni in the King Charles III Stakes.

• The special bond that led Jamie Kah to her first The Everest

“Pericles is going to get a perfect run in the race. I like the idea of switching things up with the horse,’’ he said.

“There’s something interesting about bringing the horse back to the course at Randwick where he holds his ‘PB’ (personal best), a second in the Doncaster back in April.

“Tom Kitten’s effort to run second in the Epsom was outstanding. He looks like getting the strongest-run race for 12 months, since he won the Spring Champion Stakes.

“The horse is really flying and going the way we want him to go. I think he’s elevating into his preparation so much that he may still have a chance in a ridiculously strong Golden Eagle.”

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RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Etna Rosso $6-$3.60 including a bet of $2200 at $6, Stockman $11-$10, Waltham $8-$6.50
Race 2: Too Much Caviar $8-$7, Vivy Air $11-$8.50, I’ve Been Tryin’ $15-$11 with a bet of $2000 at $13
Race 3: Island Dec $8-$5.50 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $8/$2.40
Race 4: Unique Ambition $15-$9.50, Zloties $15-$8, Quickster $15-$10, Watch My Girl $26-$11
Race 5: Far Too Easy $8-$5, Gallant Star $26-$9 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $16/$4
Race 6: Southport Tycoon $6-$4.80 with a bet of $2000 at $6, Arkansaw Kid $15-$9.50
Race 7: Joliestar $7-$6, Traffic Warden $9-$8.50 with a bet of $2000 at $8, Sunshine In Paris $11-$9.50 with bets of $2000 at $11 multiple times, Storm Boy $15-$12, I Am Me $21-$15
Race 8: Ostraka $8-$4, War Machine $15-$8, Port Lockroy $15-$10
Race 9: Pride Of Jenni $2.30-$2 with a bet of $2040 at $2.30
Race 10: Willaidow $3.50-$3.10, Estadio Mestalla $11-$7.50, Behtar $26-$12, Battleton $26-$9.50

• Racing Confidential: US Jockey Club backs The Everest’s Group 1 status

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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,2,4,5
Race 4: 3,5,13
Race 5: 2,3,6,8
Race 6: 1,2,4,6

QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,4,6,7
Race 8: 1,4,10,11
Race 9: 9,10
Race 10: 4,6,18,20

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PRICE CHECK
Sunshine In Paris (race 7) has been the best backed runner in The Everest, firming from $11 to $9 including multiple bets of $2000 at $11. Traffic Warden has firmed from $9-$8.50 with a bet of $2000 at $8.

• Ray & Duff’s The Everest Day tips, race-by-race analysis

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TRIAL POINTERS
Lady Of Camelot (race 7) looked impressive beating another eight individual Group 1 winners in an all-star Randwick barrier trial last week. The Golden Slipper-winning filly raced on speed then forged to the front to edge out Lady Laguna and Private Eye over 1000m in 58.48s.

🎥 | Adrian Bott says Lady Of Camelot is in great shape for the Group 1 Moir Stakes.@[e-mail]/1tQrZM5D4H

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) September 4, 2024

Front Page (race 5) tuned up for his attempt at a Kosciuszko hat-track when ran second to Overpass in a Rosehill trial over 900m earlier this month. Overpass always trials exceptionally well and led throughout to win the heat but just over a length in 53.79s but Front Page was conspicuous as he cruised home in second position without being put under any pressure.

1⃣ Overpass
2⃣ Front Page
3⃣ Scorch

Another trial win for @bbakerracing's Group 1 winning sprinter while @mcacajamez puts the dual #TheKosciuszko champ through his paces in second. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/PpLuFWhOmD

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 3, 2024

• Boom Torque on song for music man’s Kosciuszko shot

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SECTIONAL STARS
Bella Nipotina (race 7) ripped home her final 600m in a brilliant 32.95s to finish a close third behind Airman in the Premiere Stakes. The Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina was held up for a run and had to ease off her heels to get clear galloping room in the straight adding further merit to her run which was an outstanding lead-up to The Everest.

✈️ Airman has caused an upset in the G2 Premiere Stakes and what a day for @ZacLloydx who rides a treble - and a feature double! 🙌@HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/fQLtSlvhAk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2024

Fangirl (race 9) came from last on the turn with a powerful finishing surge to win the 7 Stakes over the famous Randwick mile course. The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl has exceptional closing speed as she demonstrated with her last start win, sprinting her final 600m in 32.92s.

And that's why we are fans! Fangirl wins brilliantly at Randwick for @mcacajamez and @cwallerracing! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/TUcrjMnNF8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 21, 2024

• GLEN BOSS: What J-Mac must do on Fangirl to beat Pride Of Jenni in King Charles III Stakes

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BEST BET
Kimochi (race 8) has returned in very good form this spring, winning the Toy Show Quality first-up then enduring a wide run but still showing great courage to finish a close fourth to Southport Tycoon in the Manikato Stakes. Kimochi, trained by Gary Portelli, takes her place in a quality Silver Eagle and is drawn awkwardly in barrier 10 but she is so genuine all she needs is even luck in running to be fighting out the finish.

Kimochi holds out a powering Commemorative to win for @GaryPortelli! 💥 pic.twitter.com/k2dWK7RHnc

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2024

• ‘I never dreamt I would get a horse like I Am Me’: Owners’ Dynamic Everest ride

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VALUE
Stefi Magnetica (race 7) won the Stradbroke Handicap earlier this year, edging out Bella Nipotina, then resumed in The Shorts and was unlucky not to beat I Am Me. Stefi Magnetica has been kept fresh by trainer Bjorn Baker with a month between runs and she goes into a very competitive The Everest as a definite winning chance. She’s value at $14.

The filly Stefi Magnetica wins an epic G1 Stradbroke - and it’s @ZacLloydx with his first Group 1 winner! 🙌@[e-mail]/eQl5rMReHB

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024

Originally published as Randwick Inside Mail: Trainer James Cummings oozes confidence with 2024 The Everest hope Traffic Warden