Cummings speaks freely of group 1 future for Libertini
Anthony Cummings has learnt not to put a boom on his horses in his many years in racing, but it only took a couple of minutes for Libertini to make him break his rule after a romp in the Woodlands Stakes at Scone on Saturday.
The I Am Invincible filly sat outside the leader and when Tommy Berry got serious she sprinted away. The margin of two lengths to Regimental Band on the post could have been more if Berry had wanted.
It wasn't unexpected from the $1.45 favourite, but Cummings wanted to keep a lid on the winner of two of her three starts.
“In the 30-40 years I’ve been doing this I’ve learned you have to keep it all in perspective, work out a plan and stick to it,’’ Cummings started. “You don’t want to put too much pressure on them.
“Her future was planned out before today. We started this prep wanting to get a win and get a stakes win, which she has done now.”
But as the interview moved on, Cummings could contain himself.
She is up with the best the two-year-olds I have trained.
Anthony Cummings
“I would be surprised if she is not a group 1 winner in time,” he said. "She will head to the Princess Series after a spell."
Libertini certainly has the the action and temperament to make her mark in the spring through the Princess Series, which incorporates the Flight Stakes and new $1 million Bondi Stakes on Cox Plate day at Randwick.
“She has got a great action but quick leg speed and she is up with the best the two-year-olds I have trained,” Cummings said. “She just took a bit of time, so we had to wait for later in the season.”
In a race sponsored by Yarraman Park, the home of I Am Invincible, Libertini became the 27th individual stakes winner for the star stallion this season, breaking the single season record of Danehill and Snitzel with a couple of months to spare.
Berry, who had earlier won the Scone Guineas on Wild Planet, had expected Libertini to give that sort of performance.
“The way she worked on Tuesday, I thought she would blow them away and she did,” Berry said. “She is a young horse with old head and she just does exactly what you want her to do.
“I really think the sky’s the limit for her.”