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By Ray Hickson

Trainer James Cummings says the question over whether Parisal can run out a strong 1400m is a valid one heading into the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos)

But he’s more than happy to be on the side of thinking it won’t be an issue given there’s only one piece of evidence to form an opinion about the subject.

That race came at her second start, in the Listed Reginald Allen in 2022, and it remains her only unplaced run to date having finished first or second in her other eight starts.

“I did try seven furlongs once,’’ Cummings said on Sky Sports Radio.

“I think you’d have to appreciate she’s a different horse to the horse she was in her first prep.

“Given her pedigree she’s just as entitled to run seven furlongs as any of my horses but she has to prove she can do it and in a pretty solid race against some extremely competent opposition.”

Parisal, $7 with TAB on Thursday, won the Group 3 Toy Show (1100m) first-up from a spell before switching to Melbourne where she was narrowly beaten by Benedetta.

She was a month between runs going into her second placing to Invitation rival Magic Time in the Group 3 Nivison (1200m) at Rosehill three weeks ago and Cummings said this time around the barrier works in her favour.

“The draw is excellent for Parisal, she can be up there on the pace holding herself together and that map gives her the best opportunity to run seven furlongs right out,’’ he said.

“She’s going very well, an excellent winner first-up and she’s been excellent in defeat in two starts since. She’s going well enough to be a competitive chance.”

The Group 1 $2 million Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) is a race Cummings is yet to win but he can only be confident he has his best opportunity to date in the shape of Tom Kitten.

His grandfather Bart won four while father Anthony Cummings won successive editions with Hotel Grand and Teranaba in 2005 and 2006.

Luck hasn’t been the colt’s best friend this spring so far but what Cummings can take out of his placings in the Ming Dynasty, Dulcify and his last start Gloaming performance is he has a horse that’s flying and a barrier that he hopes works in his favour.

“Tom Kitten’s had a good time since the Gloaming, he’s feeling well and trained on solidly,’’ he said.

“Anyone who’s backed the horse the last three would say everything’s gone wrong.

“He should have finished closer in the Ming Dynasty after being three wide out the back, he should have finished closer in the Dulcify, made a long run from a long way out, and should have finished closer in the Gloaming.

“Shouldn’t have even finished as close as he did really, after making a long run and a bumping duel at the half mile with another runner.

“Most horses give up the ghost chasing. At the very least he’s arriving after tough runs a very fit horse.

“Now, with barrier one it gives the horse the best chance to be full of energy coming to the 350m and that’s hopefully going to prove the difference.”

Cummings has Adam Hyeronimus booked for Tom Kitten and he hopes to be positioned not too far from the leading division especially if the race is a genuinely run as the lead ups have been.

To get within a half neck of Raf Attack, Tom Kitten had to overcome trouble then sprinted home in 34.14 (Punter’s Intelligence) or two lengths faster than anything else.

Parisal runs second at Rosehill on October 7

James Cummings on Sequestered (race 4): “She’s taken the runs quite well and steps up to a mile which will be good to see her at that trip again. I can imagine her, from a nice draw, getting a good run and not having quite as much to do at the top of the straight as last time. She has an impressive turn of foot and, while she’s going through the grades the races are getting a little harder and she’s a little higher in the weights, I can see her running another promising race and she’d be one of the better chances on the day.

On Balkans (race 5): “The run in the Roman Consul was that of a horse that’s looking for further. But he’s been a bit sharper than that since the run. There’s no doubt he’s going to be better off at set weights and penalties. There’s a good target over 1400m for the horse at his next run. I wouldn’t mind there being a bit of pressure on and Balkans can use his big action and get himself into the race.”

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