For the first time this century, master trainer Bart Cummings will have a runner in Western Australia when Testa Rossa filly Rosalie chases black-type in this Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Starstruck Classic (1600m) at Ascot.
During the 1970s, 80s and 90s, horses trained by racing’s living legend were regular visitors to the west where Cummings won eight Derbies, five WA Derby’s and three Australian Derby’s (last run in 1992) reports Racenet.com
He also won two Kingston Town Classic’s which was known as the Marlboro 50,000 and the Western Mail Classic, a Perth Cup and Karrakatta Plate.
Cummings now trains in partnership with his grandson James and the duo will be represented by Rosalie, a four-year-old Testa Rossa mare, who is owned by WA interests.
Rosalie has raced consistently in her three runs this preparation without winning. Her form includes a respectable fifth placing behind exciting undefeated mare White Sage over 1350 metres at Rosehill on November 16.
“For 200 metres she went with White Sage that day and okay she got shaken off and beaten comfortably but she might be a high class mare,” James Cummings said.
“Her PB (personal best) was over a mile at Scone on a hard track and she gets to the mile on Saturday on a track that is likely to be firm.
“It’s a black-type race, we’re going there thinking she a chance of finishing in top four at her best.”
Rosalie will be ridden by Jason Whiting and will jump from barrier 13 to become Testa Rossa’s 49th individual Stakes winner following on from Unemcumbered break through Stakes win on Thursday in the $250,000 Wyong Magic Millions.
