James Cummings has dominated Melbourne two-year-old races this season and is looking to continue that trend with a strong contingent of five taking on the Blue Diamond Preludes.
Cummings has trained 10 two-year-old winners for the season, including six in Melbourne of which four will be in action at Caulfield on Saturday.
Godolphin’s head trainer knows he’s getting to the business end of the juvenile season and he is hoping his runners will put their hands up as legitimate Blue Diamond chances.
In the fillies’ Prelude over 1100 metres, Cummings has three starters – Telluride, Arcaded and Picarones, who have all won city races.
In the colts and geldings’ division he will start Anamoe and the only member of his Saturday juvenile squad who is still a maiden, Kallos.
Cummings said Anamoe’s win in the Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown in November ranked as the best performance from his crop of juveniles.
Anamoe was given time to settle in that race and charged home, a tactic they won’t be changing on Saturday.
“Our feeling is that with a horse like Anamoe the best course would be to let it all unfold naturally and we might be duly rewarded,” Cummings said.
“He’s won at 1000 metres after all and we wouldn’t want to see him ripping along when we don’t want him to.
“He’s worked stylishly in preparation for this and we’re looking forward to stepping up to this race.”
Cummings said Kallos had a tough run when fourth to stablemate Telluride at his debut at The Valley and he believed he was up to stakes class.
Godolphin can make cases for all three fillies with Cummings nominating Picarones as the fittest of the trio.
He described Arcaded as dominant in her debut victory at Caulfield in easier grade and said she possessed a great turn of foot, while Telluride’s resilient last-start win at The Valley entitled her to an opportunity in a tougher race.
