ED Cummings is at the top of Melbourne Cup betting charts hoping to add his Christian name to his family’s storied history in the race.
The son of Anthony Cummings and grandson of the ‘Cups King’, 12-time winner Bart Cummings, Ed’s five-year-old mare Duais is an equal favourite for the Melbourne Cup following the release of nominations last week.
Joining the five-year-old Shamus Award mare at the top of opening markets is Derby second Hoo Ya Mal, now with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the Belmont Gold Cup Stakes winner Loft and Spanish Mission, third in the Cup last year for Andrew Balding and now trained by Peter Moody.
“I suppose it’s just a matter of working through each start, each day and each week according to what we think suits her,” said Cummings on the build-up for Duais.
“I’ve been taught by those people, by those members of the family, but ultimately the only man that is in charge or is going to bear the brunt of responsibility, is me, and it just comes down to doing the right thing on the right day and hopefully, that’s good enough.”
Duais provided Cummings with his first Group 1 in his own name when winning the 2021 Queensland Oaks, before landing the Australian Cup and Tancred Stakes last preparation. She is also the nominal favourite for the Caulfield Cup at $11.
CHRIS Waller will soon welcome the Prix de Fontainebleau winner Welwal to his stable.
The Shalaa three-year-old colt is presently trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and was most recently 10th in the Prix du Jockey Club. His departure was announced by Al Shaqab Racing’s Rupert Pritchard Gordon.
“Welwal has gone to Chris Waller with the aim of racing in the (A$10 million) Golden Eagle in October at Rosehill,” said Pritchard Gordon. “The Golden Eagle is over 1,500 metres but that should suit him. However, he must take his journey well. We hope he acclimatises well.”
SHARING OPTIONS: