News

Spring in the air for Cummings

31st May 2010

AAP Racing - Caryl Williamson - Sunday, 30 May 2010

Melbourne Cup favourite Faint Perfume will arrive at Bart Cummings' Sydney stable on Monday to begin the build-up to her spring campaign.

Cox Plate winner So You Think and Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic arrived back at Randwick last week.

Faint Perfume, winner of the VRC Oaks in the spring and the Storm Queen Stakes during the autumn, and So You Think are both raced by Dato Tan Chin Nam and have been spelling at his Think Big Stud in the NSW southern highlands.

Dato Tan's racing manager Duncan Ramage said both horses would begin their training in Sydney before being transferred to Cummings' Melbourne yard.

"I saw them both while they were spelling at Think Big Stud and they have both done well," Ramage said.

"So You Think's mission will be his defence of the Cox Plate while the Cups are the aim for Faint Perfume.

"So You Think was back at the track last week and Faint Perfume will be there on Monday.

"They are unlikely to race in Sydney and will go to Melbourne in the early spring."

Most agencies will not post Cup markets until after nominations in early August but Sportingbet Australia and Betstar have already installed Faint Perfume as $17 favourite.

Betstar's Cox Plate market has So You Think the $11 favourite ahead of Dubai World Cup winner Gloria De Campeao and Typhoon Tracy at $13.

A long time friend and client of Cummings, Dato Tan's four Melbourne Cup victories with Think Big (1974 and 1975) Saintly (1996) and Viewed (2008) make him the most successful owner in the history of the race.

He is also a part-owner of the Cummings-trained Dariana who is favourite for Saturday's Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.

Cummings' return to racing is also imminent after his recovery from a well publicised bout with pneumonia which landed him in hospital last month.