Trainer James Cummings has revealed that he is leaning towards running Ocean Tempest in the 2015 Flight Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Ocean Tempest could take on Speak Fondly (pictured) in the 2015 Flight Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Ocean Tempest was included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) and the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) that will be held in Sydney this weekend and Cummings decision has been made tougher by the fact that owners Gooree Stud already have talented filly Speak Fondly in the 2015 Flight Stakes field.
Cummings admits that Ocean Tempest would likely be a better winning chance in the Dulcify Quality, but he is keen to give her an opportunity at the highest level of racing and he told Racing Ahead that the Flight Stakes is the most likely option for the three-year-old.
“I’ve got her down in the Flight Stakes to take on the families other horse Speak Fondly, but we also have her down for the Dulcify,” Cummings said.
“She is no doubt going to be much shorter in the market (in the Dulcify) and conceivably a much better chance.
“The filly is a winner and is black-type placed, so would it be too bad to sail into second in a Group 1 like the Flight Stakes or does she have some chance of threatening the favourites in that race.
“We are still giving that good thought, but one thing that I do know for sure is that she has pulled up fantastic.
“She is going to be in the paddock on Monday regardless of where I run her and we have a really progressive filly for the autumn next year.
“We are leaning towards having a go at the big prize, but I am a big advocate for small fish are sweet.
“We won’t get this chance again, but we will try and do what is best for the owners horse.”
Ocean Tempest made her racing debut with a strong win in the Strawberry Hill Stud Maiden (1100m) at Gosford on August 25 and he was only narrowly denied by Denpurr in the Place Multi Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm on September 9 before he finished within a length of Alart in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 26.
The 2015 Flight Stakes nominations were released yesterday and Ocean Tempest could take on the likes of Flamboyant Lass, Gone To Paris, Kimberley Star, Pearls, Perignon, Sempre Libera, Sofia Rosa and Speak Fondly in the Group 1 event.
