Late change pays dividends for Cummings

Many good decisions are made on the golf course, just ask James Cummings.

The grandson of Australia’s most famous trainer Bart celebrated his first Group 1 winner in his own right at Royal Randwick on Saturday as Prized Icon won the Champagne Stakes.

Cummings had planned to send his tough juvenile to the paddock after his win in the Fernhill Handicap last Saturday but changed his mind when having a hit earlier in the week.

“I was playing golf on Monday and had a chance to think about and the race was falling away,” Cummings said.

“The horse was just about on the float on the way to Mudgee on Tuesday morning and I thought about it, looked at him and said he looks too well put him on the flat to the beach instead.

“He has had a great week, we have barely done anything with him just plenty of long slow work and he has loved it, he has rewarded us and it’s great to get that Group 1 winner for Gooree and another Group 1 winner for More Than Ready, what a stallion.”

James has enjoyed Group 1 success in partnership with Bart, who passed away last August, but this was his first since establishing his own base.

“I think (Bart) would say look to the future, self praise is no recommendations so you have said enough,” he said.

“He is a tough horse this horse and he has loved his training the whole way through and this stable can really train a two-year-old if given the chance.

“To have kept this horse up for six runs for so long he ran so well in the Breeders’ Plate and I thought that day Breeders’ Stakes placegetters have a really good record of going on and winning at Group 1 level and he has come out and done it.”

The win also had special significance for Glyn Schofield, who has endured his fair share of adversity in recent weeks.

Also on Saturday, English upset favourite Kermadec to win the Group 1 All Aged Stakes.