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By Ray Hickson

With all the attention on a few boom rival colts, Godolphin trainer James Cummings appears happy with Barber carrying the underdog tag into Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 TAB Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

While the three-year-old’s spring has been on the stop-start side, with a number of scratchings prior to making a return two weeks ago, Cummings sees a favourable set-up for Barber.

Barrier one is the opposite side of the field to where the colt jumped from when he ran into fifth placing behind Ozzmosis in the Heritage Stakes (1100m) first-up and Cummings hopes to use that to his advantage in a return clash.

“The map’s in his favour, I think he’s going to run a good race in this Roman Consul this weekend,” Cummings said on SEN.

“He’s trained on well, in fact I think he has trained on very well.

“I say he’s going to get map favours, he’s got to get a little bit of luck. It could be a close shave at the finish but that horse is ready to burst through a gap if one presents.”

Barber, $7.50 with TAB on Thursday, won his first three starts, including the $1 million Golden Gift, as a two-year-old before midfield finishes in the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper.

He clocked the fastest last 600m in the Heritage, running 32.81 (Punter’s Intelligence) and the sectionals showed he did a lot of work from the 800m – he ran 32.56 between the 800m-200m – to pick up ground.

“The way he has been galloping at home I’d say he’s a chance to add another Roman Consul to Sheikh Mohammad’s mantlepiece,’’ he said.

Godolphin has won the Roman Consul twice with Paulele successful in 2021 and Viridine in 2017 but Barber isn’t Cummings’ only chance as he’s thrown Balkans into the mix as well.

The Lonhro colt has won two of his three career starts and both have come this campaign, via a Wyong maiden and a Benchmark 68 at Warwick Farm.

Cummings said in his favour is that he’ll relish the 1200m and is a horse with some upside.

“This race is regularly not won by a horse like Balkans coming through but he might be the right horse at the right time in a strange year,’’ he said.

“I think he’s a better horse than his limited record suggests at this early juncture.

“If a few of these horses are getting a little found out at six furlongs he’s the type of horse to come along late, keep hitting the line and keep hitting the elevating ratings required.

“If he’s able to do that the sky could be the limit for this good looking rooster.”

Barber runs fifth at Rosehill on September 23

James Cummings on Razors (race 6): “The horse is an improver, he’s as fit as a fiddle. Our horse is going well, I think he will run a cheeky race and we might learn a bit about him. At least he’s got plenty of experience for a solid test like this.”

On Parisal (race 9): “I’m delighted with Parisal, it’s the right race for that mare. The set up is a little bit challenging, she’s going to need to do a bit of work to get the run of the race required to win. I think she’s in good shape and she’s got to be presenting as an excellent chance.”

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