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By Ray Hickson

There’s a bit of honour at stake at Rosehill on Saturday for Godolphin colt Traffic Warden as he clashes with Storm Boy for the fourth time and trainer James Cummings would like to square the leger.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

The pair first met when both were on debut back in December and Storm Boy had Traffic Warden’s measure, they finished third and fourth respectively in the Golden Slipper then the Godolphin youngster ran second in the Inglis Sires’ while Storm Boy was unplaced.

Cummings said on RSN while his rival has the benefit of race fitness, it’s important for Traffic Warden to make his presence felt in the Group 2 $300,000 James Squire Run To The Rose (1200m).

“We’re delighted with the way he’s come back,’’ Cummings said.

“We’ve given him a suitably long and slow build up to get him ready for an important race for him.

“There’s no denying that Storm Boy was extremely impressive first-up in the San Domenico and with that run under his belt he has that fitness advantage on Traffic Warden.

“He’s 2-1 down on Storm Boy at the moment and it would be good to draw level on the eve of the Golden Rose.”

Traffic Warden, $8 with TAB on Thursday, has trialled twice in the lead up to Saturday’s race, winning the latest of them at Hawkesbury on August 26.

He’s since completed an exhibition gallop at Randwick last weekend. With the Street Boss colt drawn alongside his rival Cummings isn’t keen to give away too much start.

“From that position if Zac (Lloyd) can be a little bit positive it can work out pretty well for the horse and get his chance to move into the race,’’ he said.

“Traffic Warden is going beautifully and I don’t think you saw the best of him last prep. Hopefully we get to see the best of him this time.”

Cummings will have last season’s star two-year-old Broadsiding returning in the Golden Rose and he said it’s unlikely Traffic Warden will follow his stablemate down a Guineas path in Melbourne.

A race like the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) was mentioned as a possible target but Godolphin also has a vacant TAB Everest slot to fill.

“Because he’s brilliant enough and he’s developed so much between his two and three-year-old year I feel we’ve got some versatility with that horse if we want to drop him in distance,’’ he said.

Expect Snack Bar to put himself right in the Group 3 $250,000 Precise Air Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) off a wide gate and feels he’s being a little underestimated.

A first-up third behind boom filly Autumn Glow at Rosehill three weeks ago was encouraging to Cummings who said the gelding has shown ability in the past to race on the speed if needed.

“I think he can improve vastly off that run first-up and it should be the right form,’’ he said.

“He made his run with Autumn Glow who is an exciting filly. From that alley, I can see Kerrin McEvoy wanting to assume a positive position in the run rather than dragging him back.

“In Melbourne he raced in a prominent position and won a Saturday handicap, so I can see him being a winning chance.”

Traffic Warden wins a Hawkesbury trial on August 26

Meanwhile, Cummings said it’s looking unlikely Commemorative will take her place in the Group 2 $300,000 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m) and could be saved for a race at Caulfield next week.

He said it doesn’t appear to be a favourable map for the four-year-old, which is something he needed on his side to tackle the likes of Joliestar and Sunshine In Paris.

James Cummings on Barber (race 10): “He’s not been beaten far his last couple. We’re trying to resurrect the horse to his best form and his preliminary has been solid. With the inner draw around the 1100m at Rosehill it gives the opportunity for the horse to have all favours in the run.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting