Trainer James Cummings expects classy mare Norzita to face a strong field when she competes in the Group 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 7.
Norzita will contest the Tramway Handicap before stepping up to weight-for-age level in the Group 1 George Main Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
The two-time Group 1 winner resumed with a very impressive performance in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Warwick Farm last Saturday, where she made up a great deal of ground late to finish third behind Rebel Dane and Title.
Norzita ran the final 200 metres of the race in 10.94 seconds – the second fastest sectional of the day behind Foreteller in the Warwick Stakes – and indicated that she has returned for her four-year-old season in fantastic condition.
Cummings announced earlier this week that Norzita would have her next start in the Tramway Handicap and told Sky Racing HQ this morning that he expects it to be a very strong race, with Group 1 winner Sincero, classy European import Carlton House, Chris Waller-trained Shoot Out and veteran gelding Metal Bender all on target to contest the race.
“It will probably be a pretty strong Tramway, compared to years gone past, and she is going to have to carry 58.5,” Cummings said on Sky Racing Radio.
58.5 kilograms is a significant weight for a young mare to carry in a handicap event and Cummings said the daughter of Thorne Park will return to more favourable conditions when she carries only 56.5 kilograms in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 21.
“The race following that, the George Main, is a really good race for her and we are looking forward to seeing what she can produce at weight-for-age over a mile back at Randwick,” the young trainer said.
“Those conditions will really suit her.”
While James Cummings is chasing his first Group 1 victory, since he officially started a training partnership with his grandfather on August 1, Bart Cummings has previously won the George Main Stakes with Campaign King in 1987 and Shaftesbury Avenue in 1990.
