Empress Rock takes out Kewney for Cummings

Champion trainer Bart Cummings produced another top class filly with Empress Rock taking out the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Sportsbet Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington today.

Empress Rock has been knocking on the door with two placings from two runs this time in before today’s win and Cummings is sure the Fastnet Rock filly will win more good races up to 1600m.

Cummings hasn’t picked out a definite program for Empress Rock but after today’s win he will be selecting some good fillies and mares races in the Sydney Autumn Carnival or Brisbane during the winter.

“They seem to be very good up to a mile,” Cummings said of the Fastnet Rock progeny.

“She was impressive today against the fillies and she will get a mile anyway, I don’t know about any further.”

Winning jockey Steven Arnold positioned Empress Rock ($13) just behind the leaders and had no trouble easing into the clear in the straight and edged away for a comfortable win.

“You have to have a look at her, she’s got class written all over her,” Arnold said.

“She’s a big strong filly and it was always going to take couple of runs for her to hit peak fitness. She has given me a good feel a couple of times and today she was going to win along way out.”

Arnold had to work a little on the filly in the early stages but once he found the right spot she settled nicely and he thinks she will is suited around the 1400m-1600m mark.

The two favourites Shopaholic ($3.20 fav) and Soft Sand ($3.40) both had no luck during the run and neither of them ever looked a winning chance.

Glen Boss had to check Shopaholic in the early stages and from that point on she was never in the race and Damien Oliver on Soft Sand was caught in the ruck and was unable to get into the clear at any stage in the straight.

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.