JAMES Cummings would love nothing more than to add The Everest to his ever-expanding list of big race winners and he will be represented by Cylinder and In Secret.
Cummings, who has had eight starters in The Everest for a second and two thirds is confident about the chances of his three-year-old colt Cylinder and predicts In Secret is ready to fire but he is worried about the lack of speed in the race.
Cylinder will be attempting to become the third three-year-old to win The Everest in its seven year history.
Cummings said things didn’t pan out as planned for Cylinder when he finished third in the Golden Rose and he still went down only narrowly but he expects him to get the run of the race in The Everest from barrier four.
He has also added the blinkers for the first time.
“The blinkers are going to help him sharpen and focus for when the pressure really goes on and these weight-for-age horses put the foot down, Cylinder is going to be ready to launch,” Cummings said.
Cummings also pointed out that Cylinder was a Randwick 1200m winner as a two-year-old.
“He’s a really exciting runner for us who looks like he’s going to get his chance.”
Her prep has been solid without getting too carried away so far.”
Cummings said it had been planned for In Secret to tackle The Everest third-up.
“Everything has been straight-forward for her and she gets her opportunity to be as good as she’s been when winning the Newmarket which was stand-out race performance – third-up from a spell, six furlongs.”
“But it’s obvious she has this challenge now of jumping from the outside draw as a mid-to back-marker in the race.”
“Unless one of these horses takes off early, this is going to be a race to suit the front-markers.”
“We are resigned to the fact a good In Secret is going to be ridden from back in the pack in a race around the bend like this.”
“The reality is she was just electric in the Newmarket and that’s the vein of form I wish to see my horse in for The Everest.”
He pointed out in the Newmarket she defeated Mazu, Private Eye and I Wish I Win in that race.
Cylinder is an $8.50 chance with PlayUp and In Secret is at $10.
