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By Ray Hickson

He’s been the punter’s pal more than once but trainer James Cummings is giving Osborne Bulls his chance to lift his profile at Godolphin with a stakes win at Scone on Saturday.

Punters are used to seeing the four-year-old in the final event, and have pinned their hopes on him to save several days on the punt, but he’s a couple of races ahead of the norm in the Listed $150,000 Yarraman Park Luskin Star Stakes (1300m).

Osborne Bulls won the final event at Randwick on March 3 as a well-supported $2.60 favourite and did it again at Rosehill on March 31 at $3.20.

He put in the run of the day to close off All Aged Stakes day, with Punters Intel recording his last 600m in a sizzling 32.35, but just failed at $2.30 to catch Tribal Wisdom and send punters home on top.

Osborne Bulls steams home to just miss at Randwick on April 21

“He makes his Stakes debut in the Luskin Star after continuing to thrive after the closest of second placings at Randwick last start,” Cummings said.

“This race should set up nicely for him, and while he can get back, he should have the entire straight to wind up.”

“He’d add more to his reputation if he can show himself in a good light against horses of this calibre.”

Rachel King has her first ride on the gelding this Saturday and despite the presence of Group 1 performers Takedown and Invincible Gem plus Red Excitement, who gave Winx a fright last spring, Osborne Bulls is the solid favourite at $2.60 to take his record to seven wins from 10 starts.

It’s been almost two years since Ghisoni’s last win, the Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben in 2016, and Cummings is hopeful that drought can break in the Group 3 $200,000 Coolmore Dark Jewel Classic (1400m).

The five-year-old put the writing on the wall with a closing second in the Godolphin Crown (1300m) at Hawkesbury and she’ll be wearing the shades for the first time on Saturday.

“We’ve gone with the blinkers for the first time in order to encourage her to hit top gear sooner and she should be running very well,” Cumming said.

“The mare appears now to have the constitution to maintain good form throughout a preparation and, despite coming into this race as topweight, she has attractive form lines.”

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

Ghisoni is the $4.40 favourite with TAB while stablemate Philosophy, a close third in a restricted race behind Dark Jewel runner Siren’s Fury at Hawkesbury, is a $10 chance.

“She’s trained on solidly since looming up and fading on her run at Hawkesbury last start,’’ Cummings said of Philosophy.

“If she takes the necessary improvement from that run she’s capable of finding the few lengths required.”

Here are Cummings’ comments on Demerara and Resin, his runners in the Listed $150,000 Emirates Park Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m):

Demerara ($4): “She’s enjoyed being kept fresh for this race and was kept up to the mark with a nice barrier trial at Warwick Farm since finishing fourth in the PJ Bell Stakes.

“She’s looked strong since her last run which she’ll need to be if she’s going to break through for her first stakes victory.”

Resin ($6.50): “She graduates to Stakes company for the first time this preparation and drops back from a nice win a month ago against older mares.

“We gave her a barrier trial between runs and she worked to the line well and has freshened up enough to make me think 1100m will suit her nicely.”

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