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By Ray Hickson

James Cummings is well aware of the hype around Godolphin filly Commemorative and has served a small word of warning ahead of her first-up assignment at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos)

There are potential Group 1 targets for the three-year-old who kicked off her career with a runaway almost five length win at Canterbury, against five rivals, back in June.

Cummings said on SEN that the Precise Air Handicap (1200m) is not being taken for granted but is a good starting point for the filly despite giving away experience to older horses.

“She’s feeling well, I can’t fault the way she’s trained up for the first-up run,’’ Cummings said.

“While she won by five in a winter midweek maiden at Canterbury nothing out of the race has proved to be very special, with all due respect, but while she didn’t run a big time rating her effort was impressive.”

Her hulking frame and big stride drew comparisons to Godolphin’s multiple Group 1 winning mare Alizee following that visually pleasing win.

After opening at $2.80, Commemorative quickly firmed to $2 with TAB on Thursday to make a winning return and Cummings, while confident the filly is in good form, said there is still a race to be won.

Zac Lloyd rides her on 52kg, shades of when he partnered Sunshine In Paris to a win at her third race start against older mares over the Randwick 1200m with a light weight on Christmas Eve.

“Let’s not get our money ready before the horse,’’ Cumming said.

“We’ve got to concentrate on Commemorative from the outside draw with 52kg to get the job done. (If she were beaten) she would disappoint the hype, that’s out of her control and ours.

“While she is on the limit she’s taking a quantum leap at her second start in a race.

"If she can make that leap it will do well for her prospects of ducking down to Melbourne for a stakes race.

“We’re just kicking off with 52kg in a handicap and feeling our way through. She will take us where she leads us.”

Cummings is prepared to forgive two-year-old Blue Illusion for his debut failure when he lines up in the James Squire Kirkham Plate (1000m).

The colt started favourite in the Maribrynong Trial at Flemington two weeks ago but weakened out to be beaten over nine lengths.

“Make no mistake he was disappointing at Flemington,’’ he said.

Commemorative wins at Canterbury in June

“We did warn he won his jump out in slow time and the horse then found himself joint leader in a faster pace at black type level. It all became too foreign to him and he folded up.

“I can’t fault how he’s trained on and I’d like to give him another chance.”

James Cummings on Marquess (race 4): “He carries a little more weight against horses like Pierossa who he defeated last time. I think he’s done nothing but continue to go ahead. He’s racing through the grades which is good to see and where that ends up for him time will tell. He’s holding his form. One thing in his favour is getting to Randwick over a mile and a quarter.”

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