Trainer James Cummings chasing unprecedented clean sweep of black type races at Scone on Saturday
Pisanello enjoys the expansive track, Zeitung can pack a punch, Thames is a talented filly and Tamerlane will be strong to the finish.
This was how Godolphin maestro James Cummings summed up his stable's chances of making an unprecedented clean sweep of four stakes races at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday.
Cummings can rely on weight of numbers in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m) with Pisanello leading a quartet of 'Blue Army' sprinters.
Pisanello was a brilliant winner at the Scone carnival last year and returns a more accomplished sprinter with four wins already this season.
'We targeted the Ortensia Stakes for Pisanello knowing he loves that fast pace and 1100m at Scone,'' Cummings said.
'It is rare to bring a horse like him back from this carnival 12 months ago where he was so good at the Friday meeting. He enjoyed the pace and the expansive Scone track that day.
'Although he has drawn out in the Ortensia, if he can rely on a good pace then he will certainly be comfortable with that galloping room.''
The Ortensia Stakes is so wide open TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have rated Pisanello as the $7.50 equal favourite alongside the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained The Novelist.
Pisanello returns to Scone in top form after a brilliant effort to defeat In Flight and Barber at Canterbury last start.
It's Pisanello who flies down the outside to win race 7 at Canterbury with J-Mac in the saddle! ðŸ'� @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin pic.twitter.com/yYqSn97Ov8
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2025
To underline the merit of Pisanello's win, Barber has since come out and won the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford and In Flight is early favourite at $3.50 for the Listed $160,000 Bright Shadow Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
'Pisanello is coming out of a strong form race,'' Cummings pointed out. 'He's had a nice barrier trial between runs and he's ready for Scone.''
Cummings conceded Pisanello was the pick of the stable four Ortensia Stakes starters but also made a case for Renosu ($14), Contemporary ($14) and Fleetwood ($21).
• Ray & Duff's Scone Saturday tips: $8.50 value bet
Renosu resumed in the Pisnaello race at Canterbury, finishing a close fourth, beaten less than a length. Cummings also has also given him a barrier trial leading into Scone.
'If we get a soft-heavy track at Scone, then it won't be an issue for Renosu as he was very good one day on a soft 7 at Flemington during the Cup Carnival earlier in his career,'' Cummings said.
'Renosu is also coming out of that hot race from Canterbury and he tends to really improve with a run under his belt.''
Renosu gets a dogged win! @KPMcEvoy with a lovely ride for @JamesCummings88 and @godolphin. pic.twitter.com/rf33aPDvEQ
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2023
Cummings said Contemporary was coming up well and suggested punters give Fleetwood another chance.
'Contemporary is ready to kick off what I hope is a good campaign,'' he said.
'Whether I save him for a week later I have some thinking to do but I like the way he is coming up so far.
'With Fleetwood, I will forgive him his first-up run (seventh at Caulfield). The track got to a good 3 that day and I didn't like the sound of that when the news came through just prior to that race.
'But he pulled up well and with some cut in the ground he has the chance to get himself back in the game.''
The son of Encryption, Fleetwood picks up his maiden win! @nashhot with a nice steer for @JamesCummings88. pic.twitter.com/zUD7WsmtDG
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2023
Cummings then made a compelling case for promising three-year-old filly Zeitung to beat the older mares in the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m).
Zeitung, who is at $5 and pressing for favouritism behind Written In Code at $4.40, impressed with a close third to Media World in the Hawkesbury Guineas last start and Cummings couldn't fault his filly going into the feature Scone race.
'I like the way Zeitung is continuing to train on, she's feeling well that filly,'' Cummings said.
'She was excellent for us deep into her campaign last spring and she's doing the same now, coming off a positive run in the Guineas.
'Tackling the older mares poses its challenges but she is maturing all the time and she can pack a punch down in the weights.''
Zeitung excels in her return! @mcacajamez has an early tremble! ðŸ'Œ @JamesCummings88 pic.twitter.com/xmw5NszeU8
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2024
Cummings was also confident consistent filly Thames ($4.80) would be her usual competitive self despite drawing wide in the Listed $200,000 Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m).
'Thames is a talented filly,'' he said. 'She might still be a preparation away but is advantaged by getting some reprieve in the weights for not winning this campaign.
'She has bumped into a couple of promising fillies, notably Soft Love, but Thames meets that filly better at the weights and has freshened up nicely.
'I concede she is going to need to bring her best at this level and if she gets it right on the day I really can see her running a race.''
Thames is a very talented filly! ðŸ'�
The daughter of Lonhro dominates the older horses. @CWilliamsJockey @godolphin pic.twitter.com/rswtDgCMr2
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 5, 2024
• Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Scone on Saturday
Cummings also has Photograph ($11) lining up in the Denise's Joy after resuming with a dominant win at Canterbury in heavy going.
'Photograph is coming off a confidence-booster at Canterbury, she was really good that day and relished the cut in the ground to win with good authority,'' he said.
'She is also a winner from Scone last year which gives us confidence she will be comfortable on the track.''
ðŸ'¸ Photograph wins first up in the last at Canterbury! @JamesCummings88 | @SchofieldChad | @godolphin | @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/aRZuyXh6YF
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 30, 2025
Tamerlane is rated at $23 for the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) but Cummings believed his sprinter had a 'good each way chance'.
This is the third successive year Tamerlane has contested the Luskin Star after finishing fourth to Opal Ridge in 2023 then ninth to Coastwatch last year.
'Tamerlane is better for his first-up run at Hawkesbury,'' Cummings said. 'He's drawn well and should get into a nice rhythm which gives him the chance to be strong at the finish.''
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