ANTHONY Cummings is giving serious consideration to backing up Fontelina in Saturday's Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Cummings said Fontelina today came off the float "bouncing" from his luckless short half head second in the Group 1 William a Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley last Friday.
He said it was the best he has seen Fontelina, which ran a 1.4 length fifth behind Pierro in last year's George Ryder, come out of a race.
"There is potential for it (to run) certainly. I haven't sat down yet and had a look at the fields," Cummings said. "But he makes it possible by the way that he has come out of that race."
Fontelina was denied a run in the home straight virtually until the shadows of the post when he dived, but came up a short half head short behind Spirit Of Boom.
Cummings philosophically viewed the run as the rub of the green.
"It was no one's fault, it just did not happen," Cummings said.
Fontelina backed up from winning the Yellowglen Stakes at Flemington last November to finish fourth behind Buffering in the VRC Sprint Classic.
Cummings said stepping up to the 1500 metres of the Ryder would be an easier assignment than 1200 m of the VRC Sprint Classic.
He said an alternative plan with Fontelina was to wait the three weeks to the TJ Smith Stakes. (racing network)