Cummings chasing another autumn Group 1

Trainer James Cummings is backing star mare Colette to show her versatility on firmer footing in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

The star daughter of Hallowed Crown is chasing another marquee race victory on day two of The Championships but is likely to face a drier track than what she’s met in some of her biggest career wins.

Colette won both last year’s Australian Oaks and the $7.5 million Golden Eagle on heavy surfaces while she was also a Group 2 Apollo Stakes winner on a soft surface at the beginning on this preparation.

Randwick was a soft (5) on Wednesday but with minimal rain forecast it’s unlikely the rating will be any worse between now and rain day.

Colette’s only win on good ground came at Kembla Grange as a three-year-old with the mare largely struggling on firmer surfaces. Cummings insists it’s not a concern.

“I don‘t really worry about it too much,” Cummings said.

“I gave herself the opportunity to prove herself on the good track and she ran same good races on a good tracks during the spring.”

James McDonald talks to James Cummings (R). Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Colette is dropping back from 2000m to the mile in the Queen Of The Turf after a last start fifth in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes behind the likes of Verry Elleegant and Addeybb.

Both the Sydney Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes had been touted as options for the impressive four-year-old at the start of this preparation before Godolphin elected to keep the mare against her own sex.

“While we were brimming with confidence that she was perfect to run another good race there (in the Ranvet), we didn't think it was worthy pushing her on with the training required to get her to a Sydney Cup,” Cummings said.

“It would have entailed a run in the Tancred or run in the Chairman's last weekend so for that matter we didn’t want to put her through the gruelling training to get her to the mile and a quarter race.

“It’s enabled me to do a little bit less with her. Not exactly by design but certainly I think she will be well suited.

“She will find herself slotting for her grand final in the Queen Of The Turf and luckily we have got a mare versatile enough to be able to still perform at that level over that distance.

“We were well aware of that at the beginning of the preparation and that‘s of course why we had her in the nominations for all of those races.”

James McDonald on Colette and Rachel King on Phaistos return from a gallop. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Cummings took Colette to Randwick on Tuesday to work alongside Phaistos on the course proper and was impressed with the work out.

“I thought it was perfect,” he said.

“She was brilliant, she moved well on that track and felt good within herself.

“She had a nice even blow pulling up and looked a fit and happy horse.”

Colette shares the second line of betting with Odeum at $7 with TAB.com.au with Kiwi star Probabeel ($2.70) a clear favourite for the Queen Of The Turf.

James McDonald rides Colette this Saturday.

Originally published asClassy Colette to show her versatility

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