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By Ray Hickson

Could Godolphin’s stalwart Avilius assume the role of giant killer in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, 12 months after being felled as the giant of the field?

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

A year ago Avilius was sent out by punters as a warm $2.60 favourite on a good track, he finished hard from well back into fourth behind $31 chance Samadoubt, but he strikes his favoured forgiving ground in 2020 yet was $26 with TAB on Wednesday.

The seven-year-old claimed his third Group 1 win two starts after resuming last spring and while he was winless in five starts in the autumn he kicked off that preparation with a slashing fifth over 1400m on a good track at Caulfied.

Trainer James Cummings said Avilius has some cleaning up to come in his coat but can only expect at least a respectable first-up showing given the soft to heavy conditions.

“I can see him running a decent race here because I am confident he is going well,” Cummings said.

“He’s had a solid spell, has had a good grounding for this race and the track will have lots of juice in it, which will be to his liking.

“He’s still a bit bleary in the coat but I think this race is set to wake him up.”

Robbie Dolan, newly minted as a senior rider, partners Avilius for Godolphin while Glyn Schofield, who has won three from six on Avilius, has his first ride on Flit in the Winx Stakes which features 10 Group 1 winners.

Flit, a pleasing first-up second in the Missile Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago, is aiming to be the first four-year-old mare since Sunline in 1999 to win the weight-for-age feature and Cummings said she’s improved with a run under her belt.

“Her preparation is aimed at her showing improvement second-up in this more noteworthy assignment,” Cummings said.

“Her response to her training has given us great heart.’’

The mare carried 57kg in the Missile and showed a turn of foot between the 400m and 200m, running a race best 11.69 (Punter's Intelligence), then flattened out late in finishing second behind Eduardo who carried 1kg less.

“She produced a powerful effort under a big weight on her return in the Missile,’’ he said.

“She runs at weight-for-age for the first time as a four-year-old with the opportunity to register a major achievement against such well-credentialed opposition.”

Cummings is eyeing back-to-back wins in the Group 3 $160,000 Mostyn Copper Show County Quality (1200m) with the consistent Roheryn out to emulate stablemate Deprive who scored a gritty win a year ago.

Flit runs second in the Missile Stakes on August 8

There are some similarities between the pair, Deprive was five when he won the race, carried 53.5kg and possesses a strong finish.

Roheryn, on the limit of 53kg, is a five-year-old and was a dynamic winner at Rosehill two starts back then left his run just a shade late but ran a slick 33.27 last 600m as he just failed to pick up Eduardo in the July Sprint (1100m) a month ago.

The gelding had a tune up at Monday’s Hawkesbury trials, hitting the line late behind Bivouac, and Cummings said while the race is a strong one he’s expected to run well.

“He looks well, he’s enjoyed having four weeks off and his form has been enhanced by Eduardo winning the Missile Stakes last week,” he said.

“I was very pleased with the way he let down in his trial on Monday, he’s been on his toes since and I’m looking forward to seeing him take on this quality field.”

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