Bart Cummings says his two representatives Sirmione and Moatize are fit enough to give him a 14th Australian Cup success at Flemington on Saturday.But the question is are they good enough?Sirmione won the race two years ago but hasn't been able to win since, although he has been placed at the highest level three times despite spending almost a year on the sidelines before his two runs this campaign.Moatize, who ran sixth to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup and hasn't won since the 2008 Saab Qual
Bart Cummings says his two representatives Sirmione and Moatize are fit enough to give him a 14th Australian Cup success at Flemington on Saturday.
But the question is are they good enough?
Sirmione won the race two years ago but hasn't been able to win since, although he has been placed at the highest level three times despite spending almost a year on the sidelines before his two runs this campaign.
Moatize, who ran sixth to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup and hasn't won since the 2008 Saab Quality (2500m) at Flemington, hasn't done much in two outings so far this preparation.
But he pleased the master trainer in his 2000m workout on the course proper at Flemington on Tuesday morning when he defeated Sirmione.
"He worked strongly with Sirmione. Sirmione on Saturday morning worked brilliantly and for him (Moatize) to head him off this morning was a bit of a surprise to us," Cummings said.
"It's a good weight-for-age race. It's hard to win but my horses are fit enough."
At his latest outing, Moatize finished last to La Rocket in the St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 20.
Sirmione finished eighth in the St George after an excellent first-up third to Typhoon Tracy in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 6.
Three of David Hayes' five Australian Cup candidates worked together on the course proper with imported entire Changingoftheguard, ridden by Matt Pumpa, beating stablemates Our Aqaleem (Steven Arnold) and last year's third placegetter Zagreb (Brad Rawiller).
Changingoftheguard sat back behind the other pair with Zagreb leading but went home strongly over the final 200m of the workout.
However Changingoftheguard coughed a couple of times on pulling up, causing Hayes to later have the horse scoped to make sure there was nothing amiss.
In other Australian Cup news, St George Stakes winner La Rocket has officially been scratched from the $1 million 2000m feature due to soreness in a hind leg.
The withdrawal of the five-year-old has cost Wadham Park trainer Dale Sutton the chance to land his first Group One winner.
Sirmione is at $17 with TAB Sportsbet with Moatize at $71 behind the $7 equal favourites, Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and Heart Of Dreams.