Improving trio to fly flag for Godolphin at Kembla Grange

Godolphin doesn’t have a representative in The Gong, but James Cummings is content to rely on a trio of up-and-coming sprinters to carry the stable’s hopes at the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting.

Fleetwood will headline the leading yard’s squad when he resumes in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m), while Pisanello and Restonica contest benchmark races on the undercard.

The former has been Listed placed in the Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the winter and is a two-time winner first-up.

Cummings anticipates a bold return, but he also warns Fleetwood will improve on whatever he does on Saturday.

“I can envisage the horse winning the race, but I do also believe he’ll be better for the run,” Cummings said.

“He’s up against it at the weights, it’s not an easy ask for the horse. He’s on 53 kilos, but he’s still out of the handicap here.

“You’ve got to be mindful of fit and in-form horses.

“I can see him really warming to the task, running on and setting up well for the rest of the prep.”

Pisanello returns from an impressive 1100m win at Flemington on Champions Day to contest the Traffic Logistics Handicap (1000m).

While he will have to lump 60kg, two kilos more than he carted to victory last start, Cummings is adamant he is up to the challenge and says the four-year-old is thriving this campaign.

“He’s a progressive horse and it’s amazing how well he’s come back. The trip (to Melbourne) hasn’t put a dent in the horse’s exuberance,” he said.

“Barrier one, a little bit of a challenge, with the track a (soft) six.”

“He’s certainly ready to progress through the grades.”

Restonica rounds out Cummings’ contingent in the final race when he bids to atone for a narrow defeat at the hands of Spanish Fox last start, that horse having subsequently franked the form with a strong Saturday-grade win at Rosehill.

“He’ll enjoy getting back to Kembla where he’s looked good in the past,” Cummings said.

“He could be really chiming in up the middle….and he couldn’t be training any better.”