Cummings Rates The Peak’s Prime Minister’s Cup Chances

Co-trainer James Cummings is confident that The Peak can record a maiden win at black type level when he contests the 2015 Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast tomorrow.

Co-trainer James Cummings fancies the chances of The Peak in the  the 2015 Prime Minister’s Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Co-trainer James Cummings fancies the chances of The Peak in the the 2015 Prime Minister’s Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Peak has done plenty of travelling since he returned to the races with a credible fifth place finish in the James Boag’s Premium Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on January 10 and he produced a credible effort in the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Doomben on February 28 before he returned to winning form in the National Construction Management Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on March 7.

The Pendragon gelding made his debut at Group level with a fast-finishing second in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 4 and Cummings told Racing Ahead that the six-year-old could prove tough to beat if he is able to produce a similar performance in the Prime Minister’s Cup.

“If we are lucky enough to win with this horse I think that it would be a massive effort because he has really done a bit of travelling recently,” Cummings said.

“He got another win over seven furlongs recently at the Sunshine Coast and on the back-up he ran very well at Caulfield three deep on the speed and he was able to beat home horses like Disposition.

“I would say that is pretty good form for this race, but I suppose the key is that he is able to afford the pressure and the rigors of travelling.

“He has put in some really nice pieces of work in between starts and we feel like we have him in really good order.

“We were tempted to run him in the open handicap last week at Randwick, but we let that go and I just think he is one of our better chances of the day at the Prime Minister’s Cup there.

“If he can rise up to the type of horses like Ninth Legion then I think we are a chance.”

The Peak is currently available at 2015 Prime Minister’s Cup odds of $3.40 with Ladbrokes and he is a narrow favourite from top-weight Ninth Legion ($4.40), the early market mover Gundy Spirit ($6.50) and David Kelly-trained Final Crescendo ($9).

Team Cummings will also be represented at the Gold Coast on Saturday by veteran stayer Precedence in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m).

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.