When Anthony Cummings sat down to plan Villa Verde's autumn campaign it was always going to end at the Robert Sangster Stakes if things went to plan.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
It couldn't have started better when the talented three-year-old filly won the Challenge Stakes at Randwick on March 16. A group 1 placing followed in The Galaxy then a midfield effort in the T.J. Smith.
''The plan was to get her back [to] winning, and she did that pretty quickly,'' Cummings said. ''Then we were on the high road. She was good in The Galaxy on testing ground, but didn't really handle the heavy in the T.J. Smith. She has come through that all right, and now she drops back to her own sex on good ground, so it would be the perfect end to get a group 1.''
The Sangster is part of a group 1 double at Morphettville on Saturday, alongside the Australasian Oaks, where Girl In Flight is favourite. Last year's winner, Platelet, returns to defend her crown against a field full of horses with Sydney form, including A Time For Julia - fourth in the Coolmore Classic last time - and the Clarry Conners-trained Satin Shoes. Gai Waterhouse has entered Driefontein.
''It is a serious race and they have got the positioning of it right,'' Cummings said. ''They coming from everywhere for it.
''Shamal Wind has been in great form in Melbourne and Platelet won it last year. Villa Verde will have to be at the top of her game to win it. It is interesting that you have a Blue Diamond winner in Miracles Of Life and should be considered the outsider of the three-year-old fillies with Gregers there as well.
''This is the [rare] chance for the fillies and mares to get that group 1 against their own sex and it is a most competitive race because of that.''
Villa Verde left Sydney last weekend, stopping over in Melbourne, where Michael Rodd rode her in her final gallop. Rodd teamed with Villa Verde to win her first two starts of her career.
''Michael was really happy with her and the way she went, and he is big plus going into the Sangster because he knows her,'' Cummings said. He opted not to run Best Case in the Frank Packer Plate and will wait for the South Australian Derby after he ran eighth in the Australian Derby at the beginning of The Championships.
''The SA Derby is there for him next week and it is worth half a million,'' Cummings said.
''He is a nice stayer and will get his chance in that race.
