Cummings has ambitious Spring Carnival plans for Skyline Blush

Trainer Anthony Cummings has ambitious Spring Carnival plans for Skyline Blush after the filly scored a narrow win at Randwick last Saturday.

Trainer Anthony Cummings will map out a Spring Carnival program for Skyline Blush, above green cap, after the filly's win at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Trainer Anthony Cummings will map out a Spring Carnival program for Skyline Blush, above green cap, after the filly’s win at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The lightly raced Skyline Blush was having her eighth start when she scored her third win in the $85,000 Ruben Guthrie In Cinemas July 16 Handicap (2000m) and Cummings is now prepared to give her a chance in better company during the upcoming Spring Carnival.

Now that the Northern Meteor filly has won over 2000m, Cummings says she has plenty of opportunities to over the next few months to be competitive against the mares.

“Now we know she can run 2000 metres it opens up options for her,” Cummings told AAP.

“There are some nice mares’ races for her in the spring and we will look at all of them.”

Cummings is not sure if he will give Skyline Blush one more run in July or send her out for a short break before mapping out a Spring program.

“She may have a short break or we may run her again as a three-year-old.”

Skyline Blush broke her maiden status with a win in a 1400m Kembla Grange Maiden on May 16 and made it two wins two starts later in a 1800m BenchMark 68 Handicap at Rosehill on June 8.

Cummings has also held high ambitions for his two year old filly Ritzy, a half-sister to his Group 1 winning stayer Fiveandahalfstar.

Ritzy is yet to have a race start but has shown Cummings enough on the track to suggest that she has plenty of ability.

The Medaglia D’Oro filly, out of Cryptic Miss, ran second in a 740m barrier trial at Randwick in January and Cummings said she is ready to trial again this week before he maps out a Spring Carnival program.

“Fiveandahalfstar is back in the stable and looks good,” Cummings said.

“But it’s his half-sister Ritzy who might be the star.

“She will go to the trials this week and we’ll work out a program for her.

“I’ve always thought she would be better at three than at two.

“She is a valuable filly and we have looked after her and given her the time she needs.”

Because of the deeds of her half-brother Fiveandahalfstar, Ritzy was purchased as a yearling for $500,000 but a minor leg injury has delayed her racing debut.

Fiveandahalfstar made the headlines with his win in the 2012 Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington and then collected his second Group 1 trophy with a win in the $2.25m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.