Edwards Cummings Chasing First Gr1 Win

Yet to experience a Group 1 winner as a trainer in his own right, Hawkesbury-based Edward Cummings saddles up 3YO colt Prompt Prodigy (More Than Ready-Allez Wonder, by Redoute's Choice) in Saturday's Gr1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick, aiming to give the young conditioner his first elite level score. Second in the Gr2 Tulloch Stakes over 2000m last time out behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained all the way winner Yaletown (Vancouver-Marianne, by Darci Brahma), who he will again meet here, Prompt Prodigy will have services of the in-form Rachel King who rode him at his most recent start. In what appears an open race, it is the lone filly in the field, the David Payne-trained Montefilia (Kermadec-Banu Wu, by Shirocco), who is the current race favourite off her last start third behind Mo'unga (Savabeel) in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m). While the latter contests the Gr1 Doncaster (1600m) two races later at the meeting, Paul Perry-trained Rosehill Guineas runner-up Sky Lab (Real Impact-Gold Mission, by Flying Spur) also contests the Derby. The interesting runner I  Gr1 New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock-Affairoftheheart, by Fusaichi Pegasus) who is aiming to becoming first NZ Derby winner to capture the Australian Derby since Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) in 2015.