James Cummings is approaching Victoria Derby day in a positive frame of mind and he’s confident he his leading chances in the feature races will be to the fore.
Cummings has key hopes in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes with In Secret and also Pericles in the Group 1 Victoria Derby.
Cummings said the Coolmore Stud Stakes was “a really deep race” and he had a lot of respect for the opposition.
“In Secret will have to go to another level to be getting over the top of these horses. II still feel she’s got that big performance in her,” Cummings said.
“We stretched her out to seven furlongs last time, which was right at the peak of her stamina range, and she’ll be more comfortable at this stage of her career dropping back to six furlongs.
“I’m very confident she’s going to run a good race and I feel like she’s got the premier, deluxe form line through that (G1) Golden Rose.
“She’s got every opportunity to get a good run from the draw.”
In Secret is a $3.50 chance with TopSport to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Cummings said Pericles was “a pretty classy customer and he would be a big threat to the more fancied runners.
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“We have been pleased with the horse, with the way he pulled up from The Valley after his excellent third in the (G2) Vase.
“He hit the front a long way out and was just a little vulnerable late against horses with galvanised form lines in races like the (G1 Caulfield) Guineas and (G2) Stutt Stakes.
“The horse is continuing to spiral upwards in his ratings towards the Derby.
“He’s only having his fourth start in the Derby, but he’s going into it off a personal best.”
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“He’s got a big pedigree, a beautiful staying physique and for all the work I’ve thrown at him, he’s just taken it easily.
“You’d like to think we haven’t seen the ceiling for this horse yet, so he’s got something a little untapped about him.”
“He looks a really interesting, natural stayer who is going to be a big threat to the favoured runners. The horse has been gearing up for a middle-distance staying races for a couple of months,” Cummings said.
Pericles is a $7 chance with TopSport.
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