The decision by the Victoria Racing Club not to allow jump-outs for two-year-olds down the straight at Flemington last Tuesday week has trainer Anthony Cummings worried. Cummings has Diamond Player down to run in the first race at Flemington on Saturday, while stablemate Diamond Costa is the first emergency. Having missed a place in Sydney, Diamond Player will be improved by the experience of running at Flemington last weekend, while Diamond Costa goes to the races for the first time. ''I'm happy with both of them,'' Cummings said. ''The horses with the experience up the straight, even after a trial or a jump-out, are advantaged.'' In the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Cummings will start Home On A Wing, which arrived in Melbourne after running sixth to Galizani in the Tattersall's Cup at Randwick last start. ''He is OK. He took a couple of days to settle in down here but he is there to run,'' Cummings said. ''He didn't draw too well up in Sydney but from the four gate on Saturday he'll run a race.''
At Randwick on Saturday, Cummings is willing to torture himself again with Hard Liquor. ''I own
him, so I can drive myself mad,'' Cummings quipped. ''He disappointed the other day but he is back to the mile. We'll ride him quiet, let him hit the line and see what happens.''
BIAS BARB
Trainer Mathew Ellerton is not alone in raising concerns about the bias at Flemington. ''Amaethon drew barrier one [and ran fifth] in the ninth race last Saturday. Enough said,'' Ellerton replied when asked about the galloper backing up in the final race at Flemington on Saturday. ''The horse has done well through the week.'' In the Hilton Hotels Stakes, Ellerton has last-start winner Red Rain. ''Nice effort winning at Moonee Valley. He is a progressive type and it will depend on how the track races if he gets his chance. If he runs well he could possibly back up in the Sandown Guineas the following Saturday.''
SHORT AND SHARP
Mark Kavanagh wasn't mincing words when asked about the prospects of Michael Rodd steering War Ends home a winner in Saturday's Visit Victoria Handicap at Flemington. ''Solid win last start but is up in grade,'' the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate-winning trainer replied. ''Each-way chance.''
FRESH TALENT
Scone trainer Paul Messara believes Mahisara is capable of figuring in the finish with Corey Brown on board in Saturday's Hilton Hotel Stakes at Flemington. ''[Mahisara] is going really well and I'm happy with him,'' Messara said shortly after Ortensia won at her first start for the trainer at Flemington on Thursday. ''It was a good first-up run in Sydney behind Hot Snitzel in the Brian Crowley. The track should suit on Saturday, the distance suits and he should be competitive, as he always is. He'll back up, hopefully, into the Sandown Guineas the following week.'' As for Ortensia, which was disqualified as the winner of the group 1 Galaxy last year due to a positive swab when in the care of Tony Noonan, another overseas campaign awaits. ''We might have a look at New Zealand at the end of the year and those group 1s,'' Messara said.
NEW-LOOK YOSEI
Dual group 1-winning mare Yosei is having a complete makeover in a bid to reignite a stalled spring carnival campaign in Saturday's Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Scratched from the Cox Plate due to soreness, Yosei also missed Saturday's Myer Classic. Trainer Stuart Webb has fitted bar plates to Yosei, while he has taken the blinkers off, added winkers and fitted her with a tongue tie.
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