Australian Racing Legend and 12-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Bart Cummings had a theory a horse’s Cup preparation required 10,000m in the legs and to run on the Saturday prior to the Cup.
That theory held true for 11 of Cummings’ Cup winners, with only Saintly failing to run on the Saturday prior to his success in 1996, instead using the Cox Plate as his lead-up race.
Cummings used the Mackinnon Stakes – now Champions Stakes – with Light Fingers (1965), Galilee (1966), Red Handed (1967), Think Big (1975), Gold And Black (1977), Hyperno (1979), Let’s Elope (1991), Rogan Josh (1999) and Viewed (2008) as their lead-up into the Cup while the Bagot Handicap – now Archer Stakes – was used for Think Big (1974) and Kingston Rule (1990).
With the racing landscape changing over the years and different training methods employed, the Cummings rule is not as prevalent now, so much so a change to the programming has seen the Champions Stakes moved to the final day of Melbourne Cup week while the Archer Stakes now holds a date in September.
Goldolphin trainer James Cummings, a grandson of Bart and who trained with the Legend for several seasons, wound back the clock with Zardozi who had her final hit out for Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
It was not over 2000m or 2500m of a Champions Stakes or Archer Stakes that Cummings had used successfully, instead it was over 1600m in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
Finishing fifth behind Atishu pushed Zardozi past the 10,000m for the preparation, but also gave the mare an important hit-out before Tuesday’s big event.
Zardozi was timed to run her final 1000m in sub 58 secs, running home the last 200m in 11.83 secs, the fastest of the race.
“We were delighted with Zardozi,” Cummings said.
“She was brilliant. Strong through the line and pulled-up beautifully afterwards.
“She was there to win the race. She was felt for and she out-finished all those horses that settled down around her.
“It was a good mile gallop that will have her ready to go for Tuesday and one thing I noticed was that if it was 10 furlongs (2000m), she would have easily run a place.
“We’ll give her a nice easy time until Tuesday and we’re confident that her work is done.”
Zardozi has had two 2400m races under the belt for the campaign, finishing a narrow second to Land Legend in The Metropolitan at Randwick and fourth in the Caulfield Cup.
Cummings said racing at Flemington again, where she won the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) last spring, was ideal for the mare.
And having Andrea Atzeni returning for the ride, having ridden Zardozi in the Caulfield Cup, was another little piece in what may secure a Melbourne Cup success.
“She’s proven to be a beautiful mile-and-a-half horse already and the ultimate test for her is the Melbourne Cup at two miles now,” Cummings said.
“I would love to see her be the first VRC Oaks winner to back up and win the Melbourne Cup since Light Fingers.
“If we win the race, there will be a few to thank and part of that will be having the continuity of having Andrea come down to ride her in the Caulfield Cup and come back again.
“He’s a beautiful staying rider and he’s quite comfortable at the weight and is a jockey that can give her every possible chance.”