The last time Ed Cummings was in Adelaide for a Group 1 race, it was as an assistant trainer to his father Anthony with a horse at the end of its preparation.
Fast forward seven years and Cummings is back in town as a successful trainer in his own right, this time with promising filly Arts, the early favourite for Saturday’s Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.
“We took a horse there called Believe for the (2016) Australasian Oaks and South Australian Oaks,” Cummings recalled of his last Group 1 visit.
“She probably came to the end of it before we got her there so she wasn’t quite as good as we would have hoped.
“But Arts is in a different place in her preparation and her racing life at the moment.”
A lightly raced daughter of Xtravagant, Arts was a brilliant winner of the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000) at Randwick two starts ago and was far from disgraced when she backed up seven days later to finish fifth in the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) despite racing keenly.
Cummings expects a drop back in distance to suit the filly, who is still learning her race craft.
“We know she’s got plenty in the locker, it’s just a matter of her coming to terms with relaxing over those longer distances at the moment,” he said.
“She was still keen in the Adrian Knox and was too good for them, so we know it’s all there and she is getting smarter with every run.
“We’re very pleased with how she has done since the Oaks and the way she’s relaxing in her work now.
“She had her final piece of work yesterday (Tuesday) morning at Flemington and she’s in good nick.”
Top Sydney jockey Sam Clipperton partnered Arts to her Group 3 win and will make the trip to Morphettville to reunite with her in the Australasian Oaks.
Cummings also has Group 1 plans for stable star Duais, who has continued her comeback from a bone chip operation with a barrier trial win at Newcastle on Wednesday.
The mare, who hasn’t raced since last year’s Melbourne Cup, is likely to have a light campaign with the Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 20 pencilled in for her return.
“We haven’t made any firm commitment to anything but the Doomben Cup at this point,” Cummings said.
“She seems as good as ever and has trialled accordingly.”