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Bart Cummings
Cummings still the man to follow in Melbourne Cup
He might be in his 83rd year, but living legend Bart Cumming is not letting up on his dream of landing yet another Emirates Melbourne Cup to further enhance his status as the greatest ever Australian racehorse trainer, writes Elliot Slater.
The man who has already landed an astounding 12 Melbourne Cup's with 11 horses, (Think Big won the race in both 1974 and '75), has a number of live contenders once again for the 'race that stops a nation'. Cummings currently has eight horses entered at the initial stage for the Grade 1 two-mile handicap, amongst whom his four-year-old filly Faint Perfume, twice a winner at the highest level, including in last year's Crown Oaks at Flemington, is the favourite with local bookmakers at odds of 11/1.
Dariana is another Cummings inmate who is expected to make a bold show on November 3rd, the daughter of Redoute's Choice having run away with the Queensland Derby last year under Michael Rodd, and who has been the subject of encouraging vibes from the training grounds. Dariana is a 13/1 chance with the TAB, but is available at up to 25/1 with British and Irish firms who thus far appear to be taking her chances slightly less seriously.
Melbourne Cup betting pundits note how Cummings will doubtless be taking his time before deciding which of his horses will be best suited to face the challenge of the hurly-burly of the Melbourne Cup, his other possible contenders including Brightful, Empires Choice, Joe Blow, Precedence, Simione and So you Think, and doubtless the picture will become somewhat clearer as we draw nearer to the big event itself.
Having won some 257 Grade 1 races during his illustrious career, which as well as his Melbourne Cup haul also includes seven Caulfield Cups and four Cox Plates, it would be foolish indeed to discount the chance of Bart Cummings make it lucky 13 in 2010.
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