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By Ray Hickson

This time last year Strait Acer had a rating of 63 and was being prepared for a Class 1 resumption at the provincials.

Trainer Edward Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart)

Of course, soon after he knocked over that Hawkesbury race the gelding notched three straight city wins. He then rolled the dice in the big leagues and ran second in the Silver Eagle, fourth in the $10m Golden Eagle and third in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. That rating now sits at 100.

While Cummings has, rightly, aimed high with Strait Acer since the spring he has yet to break through, but he said coming back a notch into Saturday’s Listed $200,000 The Agency Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick is a good opportunity.

“I can understand why people might think he’s not quite as good as he was last prep but at the same time he was running in benchmark races on the way through,’’ Cummings said.

“And we probably had a jump on the field in the Golden Eagle and the Rupert Clarke insofar as he was a very fit horse at that stage of his campaign.

“This horse is still coming to terms with his new position in the ratings. He’s been predominantly in races where he’s had to carry a bit of weight.

“He’s getting stronger and fitter and I like the way he’s prepped up for this race.”

Though he was banking on gaining a start in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap last week, with a gallop on the Tuesday prior to that race, Cummings had one eye on the Civic Stakes as a back up.

“He hasn’t done much since then other than tick over as we knew there was a likelihood he would have to travel and be prepared for the Civic,’’ he said.

“I think he’s got the right balance between fitness and freshness in his legs and he’s ready to rock and roll.”

Cummings said while winless this preparation, a second in the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final his best result, he’s been pleased with how Strait Acer, $6 on opening with TAB, has performed.

He ran fourth as favorite in The Archer at Rockhampton before a midfield finish in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben a month ago, a race that’s proven to be a decent form reference.

“I think he’s run creditably every start maybe with the exception of his run at Kembla (second-up) but that was only on account of it being a 41 degree day and him suffering some heat stress out of it,’’ he said.

“Every other run he’s put in this prep has been very solid.

“We’re coming into start seven now and he’s good and fit, he’s fresh, he’s coming out of a BRC Sprint that’s turned out a lot of very good winners like Freedom Rally, like Vilana, like Yellow Brick.

“I think it’s a nice race to come out of, he presents nicely, he’s drawn barrier four and I’ve got the services of one of Sydney’s best in Tim Clark.

“It’s hard not to be happy with how things are panning out.”

For the fourth start on end this campaign, the four-year-old has drawn inside barrier four and Cummings said he’d like to see a patient ride to give the horse his chance to produce his big finish.

“He’s been ridden much closer to the speed than he had in that preparation last time through,'' he said.

"He’s proven he’s a nice horse but he’s also drawn well and most jockeys are inclined to make use of his barriers.

“I do think he is an excellent chaser so I would like to see him in a good stalking position.”

Strait Acer runs second in the Provincial-Midway Championships in April

Meanwhile, Cummings will give Group winning mare Arts one more trial before embarking on a winter preparation he has high hopes for.

Arts was spelled after she recorded her first placing, a third at Warwick Farm in October, since her Adrian Knox Stakes win last year that saw her start $4.80 in the Australian Oaks.

“I love the way she’s come back, her attitude is faultless,’’ he said.

“Newhaven Park were kind enough to her to give her a decent spell, she’s big and strong now. Fully matured I would think or very close to.

“I could see with a bit of softer weather through the campaign with her she could be in for a profitable campaign.”

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