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By Ray Hickson

There’s always been high hopes from the Godolphin camp about talented mare Commemorative and trainer James Cummings hopes the team’s patience can pay off at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The four-year-old mare snared a Listed win at Scone back in May and only raced twice in the early part of the spring before Cummings elected to concentrate on the autumn.

He hopes the benefit of that is seen when Commemorative tackles the Group 3 $250,000 Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes (1200m).

“We tipped her out after an abbreviated campaign last time and this might be the preparation when she puts it all together,’’ Cummings said.

“She’s drawn the right gate to get the perfect run. She’s been well prepared with two nice barrier trials.

“I can forecast a good starting point for Commemorative.”

In that short spring campaign, the mare resumed with a close second at Group 3 level behind Kimochi in the Toy Show at Randwick and her only other run was also at 1100m when fourth at Caulfield.

It’s a different preparation for Commemorative, $5 with TAB on Thursday, to begin at 1200m but Cummings said she’s already proven at the distance and likes how things may set up for her from the inside barrier.

“We have maintained the barrier extension with Commemorative, giving her a little bit of room at the right time is going to be paramount to her chances of success,’’ he said.

“A 4m rail at Randwick and the way horses we were getting away from the rail last weekend makes me feel like things are going to work out well for Commemorative.

“I like the way she’s coming along, we are just a bit careful with her because she’s a big girl early in her prep.

“But she’s going to enjoy an energy-saving run from that draw (one) and will get every opportunity to unleash her rather capable turn of foot.”

Stablemate Inhibitions raced wide in her first-up fifth behind Grand Impact at Rosehill two weeks ago and Cummings said she wouldn’t be out of place in the Triscay given her solid second-up record.

“She boxed on respectably and, with that tough run under her belt, with the right draw and race set-up, she can be there without overly exerting herself,” he said

“If we are still bullish about running her by race morning, you can expect her to race well.”

Comedy gets his chance to announce his Golden Slipper claims first-up in the Coolmore Pierro Plate (1100m) where he’ll race in blinkers for the first time.

The colt, $26 in Slipper betting, debuted with an impressive enough win in the Kirkham Plate in October and Cummings said it’s a simple equation for the youngster if he is to progress toward the Slipper.

“I think he can run well, he’s had the right prep,” he said.

“We’ve taken our time with him and he had a good break since that first win. But we’ve got our feet on the ground about the way he went that day.

“Any horse with Slipper aspirations needs to be running well against the field assembled here.

“Whilst there’s improvement to come, he’s a naturally athletic horse who covers a bit of ground and he’s ready for this ungraded race right around the corner from better races ahead.”

Commemorative runs third in a Rosehill trial on February 3

James Cummings on Silmarillion (Race 7): “Twelve months ago she came up at set weights against a number of these horses in races like the Reisling. There were a number of times when she’s been up there in these races, not far away from the winner at this course and distance. But I’m not surprised that she is big odds because she has mixed her form since. She’s an interesting filly with an attitude, which we are doing our best to harness. We like the way she has been prepared, but if there was an easier race available we would be considering it.”

On Zardozi (Race 8): “Whilst I can see her running very well first-up, there is no doubt she is going to improve with the run. She’s got better performances going the Melbourne way and we are well aware of that, so you should expect to see her continuing her Melbourne campaign after this run. It’s a hot race, but the timing here suits us nicely and we can still expect her to run well.”

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