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Spring Spell For Cummings Star

3 minute read

The flying start to the new season by the Anthony Cummings stable has been tempered by a setback to one of the trainer's most promising young horses.

Vegadaze
Vegadaze Picture: Racing and Sports

Cummings has been forced to send the highly regarded 4YO Vegadaze for a spell due to on-going fitness issues, a setback to his spring hopes that are riding high on the back of his rising star Libertini and last start Group winner Mizzy.

Vegadaze earned a big reputation last season when he won his first three starts before coming close to ending the unbeaten run of champion colt The Autumn Sun in the G2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill, pushing him to the limit to be beaten into second place by only a half length.

Vegadaze was spelled after finishing fifth behind The Autumn Sun in the G1 Randwick Guineas and made his return as a 4YO with a disappointing last in a field of five in the G2 Missile Stakes won by Alizee at Rosehill last month.

A post-race report stated that Vegadaze was slow to recover but a subsequent vet examination, including an endoscopic examination, did not reveal any abnormalities.

Seeking further answers Cummings sent Vegadaze to Newcastle for a barrier trial on August 19 where he perform strongly to finish a close fourth.

However another vet assessment after the trial found the gelding to have an undiagnosed hind injury, ruling him out for the rest of the spring.

Cummings said his vets will continue to investigate Vegadaze's injury during his spell and has given stewards an undertaking to pass on further information when they complete their diagnosis of the gelding.

Meanwhile Cummings' boom filly Libertini will be a star attraction at Randwick on Saturday in the $200,000 Furious Stakes (1200m), second leg of Sydney's rich Princess Series for 3YO fillies.

Libertini appears to have the series at here mercy after her dominant first-up win the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes over the same course and distance on August 24 on the same day Mizzy won the G3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at her first start after a spell.

Heart Of Grace, the imported mare who created a betting storm at Rosehill on Saturday, has been ordered back to the trials by stewards following her failure in the Premier's Cup.

Stewards opened an inquiry into her poor performance at her first start in 12 months, questioning both her trainer Frank Pangallo and jockey Brenton Avdulla.

They agreed that Heart Of Grace had failed due to the heavy track conditions but stewards want see the mare perform satisfactorily in a trial and have also requested that Pangallo provide them with details of his race plans for the mare.

Immediate plans for the talented 4YO Mister Songman are in abeyance after he pulled up lame after his disappointing showing at Rosehill on Saturday.

A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be 1/5 lame in his near foreleg. He must pass a vet clearance before racing again.

Trainer Bjorn Baker must also submit a vet clearance for Missybeel after the mare was displaying cardiac arrhythmia with an associated excessive respiratory rate after her Rosehill failure on Saturday.

Another Baker-trained runner Savoury was also found to be 1/5 in the near-foreleg after his race.


Racing and Sports

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