By Ray Hickson
Which version of Martial Music will turn up at Kensington on Thursday?
He’s the Jekyll and Hyde sprinter and his trainer Anthony Cummings says even he’s not sure what to expect.
The four-year-old has won three of his 12 starts, all of them when first-up, and the two sides have been on show in his two runs back from a spell – a dashing first-up win over 1000m then a fading seventh up to 1100m two weeks later.
That latest run was back on March 2, he trialled 20 days later, and Cummings feels keeping the horse fresh might be the key going into the Australian Imperial Force Handicap (1000m).
“It seems to be the winning formula. I’ve tried it every other way and it’s the only way that’s ever worked so I’m going with the flow,’’ Cummings said.
“There’s one of him that stops at the furlong and one that hits the line. You can argue with it as much as you like but at the end of the day the form is there and I’m going with it.
“I’ve left him alone, he has a gallop every week or 10 days and he’s healthy and well and he’s hanging out to do something.”
Cummings said he’s come around to the fact that Martial Music, $3.80 with TAB on Wednesday, is a specialist 1000m sprinter and should be treated as such.
“I just had a view that he would get a bit further, his mum did and his old man did, but this guy is just all speed and that’s it,’’ he said.
“You’ll have your heart in your mouth until the post.”
The Randwick trainer debuts Choisir filly Sweet Heaven in the Passchendaele Plate (1100m), while stablemate Twin Telepathy has his second start, and is expecting a forward showing.
She’s taken a little time to get to the track, her first trial was back in August, but she comes off what Cummings said was a pleasing trial win and hopes barrier one aids her.
“The trial speaks well of her prospects even in the other trials where she finished out the back her finishing speeds were veery good,’’ he said.
“She put herself in the trial the other day and I’d expect she will be around the place there somewhere and having the rail to follow I think really does help.
“I think she goes there with a decent chance as does the stablemate.”
Twin Telepathy ran fourth at his debut at Hawkesbury, running on from last and he’ll likely face a similar scenario from his outside gate.
“He’s been a work in progress but his work on his good days has been very good,’’ he said.
Martial Music wins at Randwick on February 17
“He made his presence felt off a wide gate first up so if there’s good speed he’ll be doing the same, and if there’s no speed I suppose the filly might be the one to step up from the better gate.”
Anthony Cummings on Kahawaty (race 5): “Her work leading into her first couple of runs was very good. I thought her last run was better but this is something like the right trip and certainly the right grade. If she got back to her best form she would be in the mix.”
All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Kensington meeting