A new star Cummings
AUSTRALIA’S greatest racing dynasty has added another chapter after Ed Cummings landed his first Group 1 with Duais in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
While the young trainer carries a famous surname he has always done it his way, and Cummings made it clear Duais’ (pictured) victory was a result of blood, sweat and tears rather than riding on the coat-tails of his family before him.
After delivering a perfect ride from a wide barrier, jockey Hugh Bowman will also get the chance to bring up his 100th Group 1 win in next Saturday’s JJ Atkins aboard Port Louis after winning the Oaks for the first time since Winx in 2015.
Cummings now has a serious spring contender on his hand and the 35-year-old grandson of Bart, son of Anthony and brother of James will keep doing things his way.
“We did it on our own, is that the sweetest part of it? Absolutely,” he said post race. “Nothing is ever given for free in our family. You can say what you like about any one of us but we all worked our arses off to be where we are. We can all be very, very proud of ourselves.”
There is a certain amount of grit in our family and we thrive under pressure.”
Cummings always had an air of confidence about his filly heading into the race – comparing it to having a kneetrembling putt to win a golf major so Saturday’s demolition job was the equivalent of putting the ball straight into the centre of the cup.
“It has been an interesting experience. I thought she could win that way and I am glad she did,” he said,
“A win like that obviously makes you think about bigger prospects in the spring.”