Eurozone is on target to give new training partnership Bart and James Cummings their first Group 1 winner after scoring in the Listed $100,000 The Rosebud (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Eurozone leading all of the way to win the Rosebud at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Legendary trainer Bart Cummings and his grandson James joined forces at the beginning of the new racing season on August 1 and Eurozone was the second leg of a winning double for the Cummings team after winning their first metropolitan race with Streaking Comet in the first race of day.
James Cummings was excited and relieved to chalk up their first city winner together although he had been at the helm of Leilani Lodge in Sydney for the past four years as foreman.
“It is a great feeling to train my first city winner so soon, it does take the pressure off, get the monkey off my back,” James told The Daily Telegraph.
“But it is elation, as much as relief.”
“It hasn’t sunk in. It’s funny because I keep saying I have to give the ‘boss’ a call but we are partners now.
“You pour your heart and soul into what I was doing as foreman for four years with Bart and it is no different now, I’m still pouring my heart and soul into it.”
Eurozone, who started the $3.10 favourite, kept his unbeaten record intact scoring his third win leading all of the way to hold off the Peter Moody trained Dissident ($9) and Dowdstown Charlie ($41), trained by David Payne.
Gai Waterhouse’s colt Bull Point ($3.50) battled on in the straight for fourth while trainer Allan Denham will send Watabout ($4.80) to the spelling paddock after fading to finish last in the eight horse field.
Winning rider Hugh Bowman said it wasn’t his intention to lead on the Northern Meteor colt, but as the race turned out he was able to handle the new tactics.
“I didn’t push to be there and I think he would be a better chaser,” Bowman told AAP.
“He’s taken a pretty decent step up today and if he keeps doing it he could be a serious spring contender.”
The Group 3 $125,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on August 31 is the traditional lead-up for the three year olds heading towards the Golden Rose two weeks later and is likely to be Eurzone’s next start.
And if Eurozone continues to improve as the Spring progresses, a run in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 could be on the cards.
Eurozone is currently third pick for the Golden Rose at $8 behind the Golden Slipper quinella of Overreach ($4.60) and Sidestep ($6.50).
