MELBOURNE Cup legend Bart Cummings is already preparing his arsenal for a 13th Melbourne Cup - and Star Ripper could be a big gun, reports Ray Thomas in the Daily Telegraph.His report adds: Star Ripper again underlined his staying potential with his third successive win in the Sharp Handicap (2400m) at Randwick's Kensington track yesterday.Cummings, 82, dominated the Melbourne spring carnival with wins in the Caulfield Cup (Viewed), Cox Plate (So You Think), Victoria Oaks (Faint (Perfume) and To
MELBOURNE Cup legend Bart Cummings is already preparing his arsenal for a 13th Melbourne Cup - and Star Ripper could be a big gun, reports Ray Thomas in the Daily Telegraph.
His report adds: Star Ripper again underlined his staying potential with his third successive win in the Sharp Handicap (2400m) at Randwick's Kensington track yesterday.
Cummings, 82, dominated the Melbourne spring carnival with wins in the Caulfield Cup (Viewed), Cox Plate (So You Think), Victoria Oaks (Faint (Perfume) and Toorak Handicap (Allez Wonder).
He returned to Sydney yesterday with a winning double from Star Ripper and another very promising galloper, unbeaten Latin News, winner of the Sydney McGrath Estate Agents Hcp (1150m).
It's a long road to the first Tuesday in November, but the Cups King says that's the path his stayer Star Ripper could be heading towards.
"For a lightly-raced horse, he's certainly going the right way," Cummings said of the four-year-old. "It was a pretty good win, he showed he can stay well, which is a good sign.
"I'll see how he pulls up, but we might look at (next month's) Christmas Cup and Summer Cup."Star Ripper ($4.20) could not have been more impressive as he outstayed his rivals to win by a widening 2 1/4 lengths from Scouting Wide ($3.90), with Merensky Reef ($3.50 favourite) a close third.