GUINEAS SWITCH
CHANGE OF TARGET FOR COAST CREW
GOLD Coast syndicator 2K Thoroughbreds and trainer Anthony Cummings have decided to skip the Hawkesbury Guineas with Agassi and chase Queensland winter carnival riches instead.
Agassi won at Randwick on Monday and Cummings’ immediate reaction was to consider the six-day back-up into Saturday’s Group 3 Hawkesbury race over 1400m.
Although Agassi won by a decisive 2¾ lengths on the Kensington track, the effort was tougher than it looked with the gelding returning to scale wearing just one of his four shoes.
“I’ve never had that happen before,” Cummings said.
“He’s pulled up well but we’ve decided the best plan for him is to have his next run on May 4 in a similar race, then three weeks into another benchmark race with another two weeks to the Queensland Guineas.
“We think that’s a better way to get him to Queensland.’’
The Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) will be run at Eagle Farm on June 8 and carries a winning purse of $203,000.
The Hawkesbury race is worth $109,350 to the winner.
2K Thoroughbreds, which is owned by Sterling Cincotta, has a successful association with Cummings.
The Sydney stable provided Cincotta’s operation with its first Group 1 starter when Baller ran fifth in The Galaxy at Rosehill in March.
Although Agassi will miss the Hawkesbury Guineas, Cummings has decided to have a crack at the race with the Gerry Harvey-owned filly Glamour Cat.
“She is not without a chance with 54 kilos,” Cummings said of Glamour Cat, who won her debut over 1100m at Hawkesbury on April 9 and hasn’t raced since.