THAT OLD CUMMINGS MAGIC

The Cup legend of Bart lives on again this year through his grandson James, who is confident his smoky Avilius can upset the favourites today

THERE’S a Cummings in the Cup. The tradition continues.

When Avilius lines up in the $8 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington today, there will be those punters who back the stayer simply because of who trains him – James Cummings.

James was born for this. He’s a fourth-generation trainer, he’s in charge at Godolphin, and he’s already made a name for himself in this sport. He’s got Avilius going well, too.

But some of the support for Avilius will be sentimental money, for old time’s sake.

Avilius will take us back to those days when James’ grandfather Bart kept winning the Cup.

Like with Viewed in 2008, Rogan Josh in 1999, the champions Saintly in 1996 and Let’s Elope in 1991.

Or when Kingston Rule set the race record in 1990.

For those of us who are old enough to remember the 1970s, Bart dominated with Hyperno in 1979, Gold And Black in 1977, and Think Big in 1974-75.

There are some who can go back even further to when the legend was born with Light Fingers in 1965, the mighty Galilee in 1966, and Red Handed in 1967. There is no race quite like the Melbourne Cup to take us back. To the days when we watched the race in the classrooms at school, or at university. In workplaces or at the racetrack.

Or at Flemington. It’s a rite of passage for every Australian to go to the

Cup at least once. James Cummings should have been at Flemington today, along with about 100,000 race fans.

A pandemic means the famous race will be run in silence before empty grandstands.

“I had a flight booked, but I just can’t go,” Cummings said. “There is going to be too much inconvenience with the regulations, but I have so much faith in my team in Melbourne. They have got their eyes on the ball.” Cummings’ Melbourne “team” includes stable foreman Reg Fleming. He’s a master horseman and held a similar position with Bart for nearly two decades.

Fleming was there for

Bart’s last three Melbourne Cup winners – Saintly (1996), Rogan Josh (1999) and Viewed (2008).

James revealed he was also at Flemington when Viewed gave

Bart his 12th and final Melbourne Cup.

“I was lucky enough to be there for Viewed, but I wasn’t actually working for Bart at the time,” James said.

A few months later, James decided university wasn’t for him. He rang his grandfather and asked for a job.

When Bart had his champion So You Think start favourite in the 2010 Melbourne Cup, James was at Randwick, saddling up the stable runners.

He watched on as So You Think ran third to Americain.

A few years later, Bart and James formed a training partnership. In 2014, they had a Cup runner Precedence, who ran a gallant sixth.

It was the last time Bart Cummings was listed as the trainer of a Melbourne Cup runner.

He died in August 2015. James is continuing the family tradition. It began with Bart’s father Jim, who trained Comic Court to win the 1950 Melbourne Cup.

James’ father Anthony has had some Cup runners, too. But back to Avilius.

This is his second start in a Melbourne Cup. He suffered from race interference in 2018 and finished near last.

Avilius was one of the favourites two years ago.

He’s an outsider today. But remember who trains him.

“I think Avilius is going really well, he is brilliant,” Cummings said.

“He was unlucky in the Caulfield Cup (sixth to Verry Elleegant) last start. He has plenty of ‘stored energy’ from that race. He is fifth up into the Melbourne Cup with that 2400m run under his belt.

“He has The Bart Cummings trophy (race win over 2500m at Flemington two years ago) to his name, so there is a lot to like about his staying power.”

Cummings said he couldn’t have Avilius any fitter or more ready for the Cup, but the gelding needed to be against some quality opposition.

“The feeling in Melbourne is this is the strongest Melbourne Cup we have seen for a long time,” he said.

“There’s an English Derby winner and runner-up (Anthony Van Dyck and Sir Dragonet) in the field. Give me a break, it is amazing. But we have Avilius in the race.

“Reg (Fleming) is rapt to have a runner in the Cup, so am I. He hasn’t given us a problem all spring, he’s there to run a good race.”