Prized Icon has won the Victoria Derby in front of nearly 100,000 at Flemington, as a new name – with a familiar surname – was etched into racing folklore.
Trainer James Cummings, son of previous Derby winner Anthony and grandson of the great and late Bart Cummings, paid tribute to the man who only eighteen months ago was helping teach him the trade.
Great-grandfather Jim Cummings had also won the Derby in 1948 ensuring another chapter of this remarkable Australian horse racing family has been written.
“I get a lot of confidence from the fact that my great-grandfather started training horses in 1911; there’s over 100 years of horse training excellence in the family,” Cummings said.
The three-year-old colt boasted two previous Group One wins, but saved the best for the big occasion, running down New Zealand stayer Sacred Elixir.
The short-odds favourite had hit the lead shortly after the final turn, but couldn’t hold off a late powerful surge from Prized Icon, with jockey Glyn Schofield timing the run perfectly.
In the Lexus Stakes, English raider Oceanographer pressed its claims for short-odds consideration in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, powering down the home straight to run down rival Tom Melbourne.
Needing a win to ensure selection for the “Race that stops a nation”, trainer Charlie Appleby was delighted after a third placed finish at the Geelong Cup.
“I say well done to the team and they have done a great job getting this horse freshened up after this last start,” Appleby said.
“Whether he can win the Cup I don’t know, but he can back up for sure ... he came out of the last race so well, bucking and kicking, and the sunshine on his back will do him a power of good.”
In the Cantala Stakes outsider Le Romain upset co-favourite Mackintosh who faded badly to finish outside the places.
Shortly backed The United States finished swiftly, but left its run too late to just miss out on a place.
Earlier, over the shorter distance of 1200m, Flying Artie won the sprinting bragging rights in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
With over $5m in prizemoney offered across races on Derby Day and $1.5m for the Victoria Derby alone it was however Anthony Cummings’ day to remember – and he praised his horse Prized Icon, but ruled out a potential future tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
“I wouldn’t be talking about a Melbourne Cup (based on his breeding) ... I might get into a little trouble like that,” Cummings said.
“We pay attention to how horses do need a little time to recover from a race like this and we certainly won’t be in a rush with this horse.
“He’s a valuable commodity, he’s gonna be close to my heart for the rest of my life — he’s my first Derby winner.”
