Edward Cummings had a plan when he started the autumn campaign of Duais to bring the mare to Melbourne for the Australian Cup.
It was a race his grandfather, Hall Of Fame trainer Bart Cummings, won on 13 occasions and the younger Cummings wanted to get his name on the honour roll.
“He set the benchmark and now we’ve got to do our best to catch him,” Cummings said.
Duais did her part on Saturday taking out the Group 1 race over 2000m in comfortable fashion which in turn should give the Hawkesbury region in NSW a boost after the recent floods.
Coming from back in the field under Josh Parr , Duais ($7) came with a powerful finish to score a two-length win from the $3.10 favourite Think It Over with Spanish Mission ($3.70) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
With the Hawkesbury area waterlogged, Cummings brought Duais to Flemington earlier in the week to prepare for Saturday’s contest.
“We always wanted to be here, and it was always part of the plan,” Cummings said.
“We had done something similar last preparation.
“Naturally we were disappointed that the grand final didn’t work out how we would have liked, but we felt getting here to Flemington would suit her down to the ground, as would 2000 metres third-up.”
Parr said it was a thrill to ride a Group 1 winner at Flemington going into the race full of confidence after the mare closed off for sixth behind Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick on February 26.
“With a pinch of luck, we would have won the Chipping Norton,” Parr said.
“That was evident with her final furlong. It was very strong.
“I was confident when I saw her here today and Edward assured me that she was in great shape and once I got aboard, she was relaxed.”
Parr said he got extra satisfaction being able to hold Hugh Bowman in a pocket aboard Maximal.
“That’s a great feeling in a Group 1 when you’re able to manoeuvre a horse like that and you know then that you’re in good shape for a victory,” Parr said.