Precedence Chasing Back-To-Back Premier’s Cup Wins

Precedence will have the opportunity to take out the Premier’s Cup for the second year in a row, but trainer James Cummings believes that the veteran stayer faces a tough task in the Group 3 event at Doomben on Saturday.

Precedence scored an impressive win in last year's edition of the Premier's Cup.

Precedence scored an impressive win in last year's edition of the Premier's Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Precedence returned to the races with a fast-finishing third behind Streama and Mr O’Ceirin in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 3, but will be forced to carry the top-weight of 59 and a half kilograms from barrier 12 in the 2014 Premier’s Cup this weekend.

Cummings told Sky Racing HQ that he was happy with the first-up performance of Precedence, but does not believes that the son of Zabeel will reach peak fitness until his major 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival goal – the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.

“He is working very well,” Cummings said.

“The fact of the matter is that he will be coming to a peak for the Brisbane Cup and he has drawn very badly there.

“If there is one benefit he will get a bit of room and a good genuine tempo in the race like we had last year when he did win it would be lovely.

“There are a couple of horse in it that are in good form, Zephyron and Pretty Pins are last start winners, and it is an interesting race and a stepping stone to the Brisbane Cup, which will hopefully culminate in throwing up a good stayer for the spring.”

The Premier’s Cup has drawn a very interesting field of 15 runners and is set to have a strong New Zealand flavour; with New Zealand-trained stayers Military Move, Zennista and Perfect Start all set to contest the Group 3 event.

One of other interesting runners in the field is Anthony Freedman-trained Waldpark, who returned to racing with a sixth place finish behind Rhythm To Spare in the Peter Armytage Handicap (1610m) at Flemington on April 25.

Waldpark made his Australian racing debut during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival with a eighth place finish in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 7 and performed fairly in both the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21 and the Benalla Gold Cup on October 6, but beat home just a single runner in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Other interesting Premier’s Cup runners include last start winner Pretty Pins (barrier four), Chris Waller-trained Danchai (barrier seven), and veteran gelding Raeburn (barrier eight).

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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.