Cluster has already overcome a major Golden Rose obstacle by getting a start in Saturday’s $1 million race, much to the relief of his trainer and punters.
One of two runners for the Anthony Cummings stable, Cluster has been backed from $201 to his $9 quote after Tuesday’s barrier draw where he came up with gate seven of 17.
With the rail in the true position at Rosehill, the 1400m start can accommodate 18 runners, something Cummings was pleased to learn over the weekend.
After a luckless fifth in the Run To The Rose which left him with prize money of just $27,950, it looked as if Cluster would miss the cut.
The late entry of the now favourite Prince Harada also put a spanner in the works but all’s well that ends well for the Cummings camp which also has $13 chance Drago in Sydney’s richest spring race.
“We tossed up whether to run him in the Ming Dynasty on Saturday to get his prize money up but that would have been the wrong thing to do,” Cummings said.
“He’s in there now and we’ve got two nice horses going to the race.
“Drago needs a good tempo to give him his best chance in a really strong 1400-metre race.”
Peter Robl opted to ride Drago, leaving James McDonald to pick up the mount on Cluster.
Cummings said Prince Harada was the obvious danger to his pair.
“The Victorians have been found wanting for the most part in the past,” he said.
“But Prince Harada is the most exciting three-year-old I have seen outside of mine.”
The Tony Vasil-trained Prince Harada was considered unlucky not to have maintained his winning sequence when he went down to Fast `N’ Rocking in a rough finish to the McNeil Stakes at Moonee Valley last Saturday week.
He has barrier one in the Golden Rose with Fast `N’ Rocking from the David Hayes stable to jump from five.
Brett Prebble, suspended for his part in the McNeil interference, returns to maintain his association with Fast `N’ Rocking in the Golden Rose.
Hugh Bowman abandoned Cluster to accept the mount on Prince Harada, the $4.20 favourite ahead of his last-start conqueror who is at $6.
Zoustar’s bid to give premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller his first win in the Golden Rose were dealt a blow by barrier 17 and he has drifted from $8 to $11.
Gai Waterhouse will have five runners – Aussies Love Sport (barrier 16), Pitcrew (four), Bull Point (12), War (10) and Marseille Roulette (nine).