Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It’s that time of year where emerging horses can show their wares and Godolphin trainer James Cummings says promising three-year-old Hanau has the chance to do just that at Rosehill on Saturday.

The grey is one of two from the blue team, the other being Pisanello, engaged in the ATC Foundation Handicap (1100m) and he’s a horse that has definitely caught Cummings’ eye.

Hanau, $5 with TAB on Thursday, beat Xidaki to notch his maiden win and was given a break after a rails hugging victory at Canterbury four months ago.

“I’d expect Hanau to run a cheeky race first-up,” he said.

“We rewarded him with a spell after his win at Canterbury and he’s come back in great condition.”

Two trials have Hanau fit for his first-up assignment in what promises to be a genuinely run race and taking a line through the stablemate who narrowly held a margin in his latest trial gives Cummings some confidence.

“I’ve loved his trials, he’s going to prep up quite nicely here,” Cummings said.

“That most recent trial at Hawkesbury, going to the line beside Pereille, that’s pretty nice work for a race like this.”

Pisanello was confidently supported last start at Rosehill but in testing conditions, which saw the meeting abandoned soon after, he finished fourth as a $4 chance behind Cigar Flick.

But he was dynamic scoring an easy win at the Scone carnival prior to that and while he has a tricky draw to contend with Cummings said a conservative ride probably suits his style.

Hanau runs second in a Hawkesbury trial on June 3

“He has a bit of work to do from that outside draw, it’s not ideal for him,” he said.

“I think he’ll run a race, provided things go right for him early.

“Note that Adam Hyeronimus gets back on him, he’s had the feel of him and the way he goes when held up.

“It’s good to have him on the horse from the perspective that the horse can really let go if he’s not forced to do too much work coming around them.”

Zoustar filly How Dare You won some praise from Cummings after her popular first-up win at the Scone carnival and he feels she can only be better going into the TAB Handicap (1400m).

Since that win the three-year-old, a winner of two from eight, has ticked over with a barrier trial. Kerrin McEvoy rides her, as well as Hanau, for Godolphin.

“She been a little bit underrated, but she’s starting to find her feet now,’’ he said.

“That win over 1300m fresh-up was really good and I think she’s entitled to go on with it from there.

“We can expect strong pace again here, she’s drawn in a slightly awkward position, but she’ll be flying home given the way she’s trained on since Scone.

“I d like to see her go on with it because she’s quite a talented filly.”

James Cummings on Sandpaper (race 10): “It will be good to see him resume and get going. He’s been OK in his lead-ups, but I’d like to see the horse get back to his form from a couple of preps ago. He’s trained on and improved in his trials, which he was entitled to do. He’s got something in him, he’s a former black type winner of the Gothic Stakes, so it would be good to get him back to his best form.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting