James Cummings has dominated Melbourne’s two-year-old races this season and he is hoping to add the jewel in the crown with three runners in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
The Godolphin trainer’s trio are all well fancied with both Arcaded and Ingratiating last-start winners, while Anamoe was beaten in a photo by General Beau in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
Cummings has trained the winners of eight Melbourne two-year-old races so far this season and will be chasing his first Blue Diamond victory at Caulfield on Saturday.
Cummings’ best result in a Blue Diamond Stakes was a fourth with Athiri in 2019.
He believes Anamoe, who will wear blinkers for the first time, could be the best of his trio.
“His efforts to date have been excellent and his Prelude performance was outstanding,” Cummings said.
Anamoe has drawn barrier 15 and Cummings says he will settle back in the early stages.
“From the draw, we can visualise him getting into plenty of open space and hitting the line with gusto,” Cummings said.
Cummings was pleased with his other colt Ingratiating’s win in the Talindert Stakes at Flemington last Saturday, rating it as a strong Blue Diamond trial.
“His Talindert victory last week was quite the powerful piece of work for this Blue Diamond,” Cummings said.
Cummings pointed out that Ingratiating had raced four times, making him the most experienced horse in the race alongside General Beau, a statistic which could give them a slight edge.
Filly Arcaded also presents with impressive credentials having started twice for two wins, both in brilliant fashion, and Cummings is pleased with her inside draw.
“Gate one is precisely the barrier Arcaded started from when she pulverised her rivals on debut,” he said.
“The filly’s follow-up win in the Blue Diamond Prelude revealed she’d improved and with that experience under her belt there’s every reason to believe she is capable of going ahead again.”