Cummings Magic Worries Walker
Thursday, 23 October 2008:  | | Mark Walker |
Walker admitted the Cummings magic had him nervous before the mare left NZ late on Wednesday for Melbourne.
"The filly (Samantha Miss) must be hard to beat, but I'm worried about Sirmione," said Walker.
"He must be due to come back to form and you can't under-estimate Bart (Cummings) in the big races - he's a genius."
Walker has good reason to far the Cummings runner as Princess Coup was runner-up to Sirmione twice last year's in the Mackinnon Stakes and the Australian Cup but did beat him in the St George Stakes at Caulfield.
Princess Coup landed in Melbourne last night after Walker gave the mare her final gallop on the course proper at Matamata on Wednesday morning when she was ridden by stable apprentice Sam Collett.
She was floated to Auckland late in the afternoon for the flight to Melbourne and will spend the next 48 hours at the Romsey property of trainer Leon Corstens.
Walker said Wednesday's work was perfect after her exhibition gallop between races at Tauranga last Saturday when she was ridden by her Cox Plate jockey Opie Bosson.
Working right-handed on the Matamata course proper, Princess Coup covered 1200m in 1:27.2, the last 600m in 39.9 and ran up her last 200m in 11.7.
"It's just the work I wanted to see her do," said Walker.
"She worked off at three-quarter pace and did a working gallop before sprinting the last furlong.
Walker and Bosson will not fly to Melbourne until Friday.
Walker will make a decision on backing Princess Coup up in the MacKinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week after her Cox Plate performance.
"It'll all depend on how she pulls up from the Cox Plate and how she does," said Walker.
"She's not booked to go into quarantine until November 15 so there's no reason why she can't run again in the MacKinnon if she's alright."
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