Trainer James Cummings will saddle up two promising types at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, and they will both look to go one better after narrow last-start defeats.
Lightly raced two-year-old Tarpaulin will try to get the stable off to a winning start in the opening event over 1200m.
Trainer James Cummings.Credit: Getty
The Godolphin galloper indicated he would return improved in his second preparation, and his first-up effort at this track a fortnight ago was full of merit.
He had his chance stalking the speed, but showed a turn of foot and maintained a strong gallop through the line, clocking one of the meeting’s fastest final 200m splits.
He couldn’t hold out a smart type in Mawjood, but the clock backed up the visuals with the race rating exceptionally well relative to the day and the margins throughout backing the quality.
He will have improved his fitness from that effort, the rise in trip is ideal, and jockey Zac Lloyd is in career-best form.
In addition, Tarpaulin has a dominant sectional profile relative to his rivals and will be hard to hold out.
Trunk resumes from a 151-day spell and looms as the main danger to the early favourite.
He comes out of the Waterhouse and Bott yard and has had two trials, which gives him the platform to kick off his campaign in style.