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By Ray Hickson

Trainer James Cummings is already thinking spring with promising filly In Secret as the youngster faces her first black type test in Saturday’s Listed $140,000 Vinery Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Scone.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

Not only was the blueblood visually impressive in her debut win at Hawkesbury a month ago she backed it up on the clock as she ran the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 34.15, which included a sizzling 10.75 from the 400m-200m (Punter’s Intelligence).

That was an 1100m maiden but Cummings said the sectionals confirmed to him that In Secret is a filly with plenty ahead of her.

“It’s important for them to measure up sectionally with the older horses because she’s not far off being three herself,’’ Cummings said on Sky Sports Radio.

“The fact she’s so well respected in the market in a stakes race at her second start tells us we are going somewhere with her.”

In Secret was $3.30 favourite with TAB on Thursday in the Woodlands, a race that has been known to unearth a topliner.

Just three years ago, Libertini scored a runaway win in the race at just her third start.

Cummings said the Godolphin camp has been marking time with In Secret with this race in mind and while it is a month since her debut she showed she's ticking over well with a trial.

“She’s been well set up for this race, she hasn’t been overly taxed and had a few weeks between runs,’’ he said.

“We feel like she has the right set up that winners of this race in the past have had.

“She’s beautifully bred so it would be a big result to get some black type with her so early in her career. But equally she has shown lots of promise, and looks to get a perfect run from the draw.

“I’d be pretty excited about her if she can get up and win this race that she would have excellent prospects for us in the spring.”

All eyes will be on exciting sprinter Andermatt at Scone and Cummings is hoping to gain valuable intel in the Listed $140,000 Scone Equine Hospital Luskin Star Stakes (1300m).

While the gelding is also an acceptor, and emergency, for the Ortensia Stakes over 1100m, Cummings said despite the wide alley in the Luskin Star it’s important to test his distance limits with a view to a potential Stradbroke Handicap start in the short term.

“If he went about his business as impressively over 1300m in the Luskin Star as he has over the shorter trip in two runs back this preparation, and look the same horse as he has since being gelded as a three out of three winner, he would be opening up some opportunities this preparation and next,’’ he said.

“A Stradbroke would loom up and look very enticing for a horse coming through his grades so fast.”

Of course the Luskin Star has turned into an audition race for prospective TAB Everest hopefuls with four of the past five winners going on to contest the Everest later in the year.

Both Trekking (2019) and Osborne Bulls (2018) ran third in the country’s richest race for Godolphin on the back of Scone, while last year’s winner Lost And Running ran fourth before going on to win The Hunter.

In Secret wins at Hawkesbury on April 13

Andermatt was given a huge rap by James McDonald after his runaway win in heavy ground at Randwick on April 23, suggesting bigger things are in store for the four-year-old in the spring.

Cummings said he’s always had an opinion of the horse and since being gelded has continued to go from strength to strength.

“You can see the races I’ve been interested in running him in in the past, and the opposition he met as a two-year-old, and he’s really putting it together now in great style,’’ he said.

“As long as he can get into a good rhythm and relax at 1300m. That would be something of a challenge for the horse but I think it is worthy of trying him.”

Andermatt is on the $26 line in all-in TAB Everest betting.

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