The James Cummings trained Prized Icon scored an upset win in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington today.
Prized Icon, above, proved to be the best staying three year old with his win in the Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Prized Icon was sent out at the good odds of $17 and under the hard riding of Glyn Schofield was able to overhaul the $2.70 favourite Sacred Elixir to record a two and half lengths win victory.
The Team Hawkes trained Inference ($9.50) ran on for Dwayne Dunn to fill third spot just ahead of Hugh Bowman’s mount So Si Bon ($6) in fourth position.
Prized Icon was James Cummings’ first win in the Victoria Derby, a race his famous grandfather Bart Cummings had won on five occasions and his father Anthony won in 2012.
Cummings had set Prized Icon for the Victoria Derby after he won the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick as a two year old during the Sydney Autumn Carnival but his Derby campaign was almost derailed after a poor performance last start when fifth in the Group 2 $200,000 LUCRF Super Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley last week.
“Like most trainers it will take a little while for this to sink in,” James Cummings said.
“The first thing I can reflect on is how good Glyn had this horses travelling, particularly in the early stages. We have seen it before to win staying races like these horses have to be in their own comfort zone, in their own space and today was chalk and cheese to what we saw last week where he got none of that.”
“He has been a model of consistently since won the Group 1, his whole career. This is thirteen starts now for ten placings, his second Group 1.”
“Although winless leading up to today, he just continued to show such strength and the miles and miles of Cummings training has kicked in and that he has kicked away to win a derby nicely and convincingly.”
“I am actually thinking of setting him for the Doomben Cup. He going to be close to my heart for the rest of my life. My first Derby winner and the stable.”
The Group 1 $650,000 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben is run during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Glyn Schofield had settled Prized Icon midfield and followed Zac Purton on the favourite Sacred Elixir who joined the leader on the point of the home turn leaving Prized Icon to have the last shot.
Even though Sacred Elixir appeared to hit the front very early in the straight, Purton said that the New Zealand three year old had every chance.
“He raced alright, he had his chances,” Purton said.
