The Cummings camp has declared that Eurozone is back to his best as the three year old prepares for the Group 1 $600,000 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Eurozone, black and white checks, is back to his best for Royal Randwick Guineas. Photo by Steve Hart.
The normally sluggish track worker has picked up after his fourth to Shamus Award in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1 with Randwick clocker Nic Ashman reporting that the colt worked in fine style on Tuesday morning.
“It is hard to get a guide on Eurozone on at trackwork because he doesn’t usually work that well but his gallop was solid enough and the colt does look in superb order since returning from Melbourne,’’ Ashman told The Daily Telegraph.
Co-trainers Bart and James Cummings both agree that the hard track at Flemington last start was a major contribution to Eurozone missing a place but the Randwick track on Saturday should be a more favourable surface.
“The track was too hard for him the other day. When they say it is a good three at Flemington, the track is more like concrete,” Bart Cummings said.
“We are very happy with him and this Randwick Guineas is going to be a fantastic showdown between a bunch of really good three-year-olds,’’ James Cummings said.
“My horse has that weight-for-age form around Moment Of Change and Shamus Award and back to his home track on Saturday, with a bit of give in the surface, I’m sure he will lap it up.’’
Eurozone has drawn barrier four in the fifteen horse Royal Randwick Guineas with big race jockey Glen Boss to stick with the Northern Meteor colt.
Back on his home track at Randwick Eurozone will be very to beat after going done by the barest of margins when second to Moment Of Change two starts back in the Group 1 weight for age $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8.
The Peter Moody trained Dissident will also be in the firing line following his win over Atlante and Savvy Nature in the Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on March 1.
Jim Cassidy will be aboard Dissident again and will have to weave some of his magic after the colt drew off the track at thirteen.
Kiwi colt Atlante was better treated with barrier five for Glyn Schofield while James McDonald will be able to give Savvy Nature a nice run from gate six.
The Trent Busuttin trained El Roca was out of luck at the barrier draw coming up with fourteen which will probably force Hugh Bowman to go forward from the wide gate.
Gai Waterhouse will saddle up three runner with Bull Point from barrier nine with Damien Oliver the pick over Romantic Touch (Damian Browne, 15) and Woodbine (Tommy Berry, 11).
The David Payne trained Criterion will also be among the main chances after an eye catching second to Shamus Award in the Australian Guineas.
