In The Everest’s short history James Cummings can boast having trained three placegetters and he believes his representative Ingratiating won’t be far away when he takes on a star studded field this year.
Cummings trained Bivouac who ran second in 2020 and Osborne Bull and Trekking who finished third in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Cummings made the call that Ingratiating would represent Godolphin after he finished second to his stablemate Paulele in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday which followed a first-up win at that track.
Cummings is upbeat that Ingratiating, who is a $41 chance with TopSport will be suited by The Everest and could be a blow-out chance.
He believes Ingratiating will be suited by the fast pace in The Everest and will run home powerfully.
“He gets a huge test this weekend, there’s no doubt he’s got an enormous mountain to climb but he’s one of the horses who should be able to capitalise on that pattern and be storming home in the race,” Cummings said.
“There are a number of very, very fast horses who would be vying to take the lead, so there’s no doubt it will be a very fast-run race, so there might be an opportunity for a closer.”
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“It might be up to a horse like Ingratiating who can use his toughness from a seven-day backup and experience. With the best run of his career and a whole heap of luck he could give them a scare and that would give us a really big thrill.”
“He’s going to enjoy racing on a soft track, he’s going to come from a long way off the pace and there’s going to be genuine speed up front.”
“He’s got such a supreme test in Australia’s best sprint race, but he couldn’t be arriving here in better condition than he is.”
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“First-up this preparation, he was impressive storming to the line and demonstrating that he was back with a bang and into the sort of form we needed to see him be competitive in Group 1 sprint races,” Cummings said.
“He backed that up with an excellent run in the (G2) Schillaci (Stakes) on the weekend where he surpassed his PB.”
“There was a good pace, a few horses attacking for the lead to the home turn.”
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