IT IS understandable that, with 12 Melbourne Cups to his name, Bart Cummings would be wary of changing his successful formula. But the Cups King is open-minded about his approach to the 2009 Cup with last year's winner Viewed, who kicks off his campaign at Caulfield tomorrow, reports The Age.It says: Cummings was forced to try something different last year for his 12th Melbourne Cup win. Circumstances demanded a different approach with Viewed after he missed a vital run a week before the Caulfie
IT IS understandable that, with 12 Melbourne Cups to his name, Bart Cummings would be wary of changing his successful formula. But the Cups King is open-minded about his approach to the 2009 Cup with last year's winner Viewed, who kicks off his campaign at Caulfield tomorrow, reports The Age.
It says: Cummings was forced to try something different last year for his 12th Melbourne Cup win. Circumstances demanded a different approach with Viewed after he missed a vital run a week before the Caulfield Cup when he was kicked at the barrier and scratched before the Yalumba Stakes. It meant he did not have a run for four weeks leading into the Caulfield Cup, where he finished 10th. He then ran last in the weight-for-age Mackinnon Stakes three days before his Melbourne Cup triumph at odds of $41.
Instead of derailing Viewed's Melbourne Cup assault, Cummings this week conceded the forced late change in his stayer's preparation may have been the difference between victory and defeat on the first Tuesday in November.
''It might have been a blessing in disguise, as it might mean that he appreciates a lighter campaign,'' Cummings said. ''I originally thought that he'd done a very good job to win the Cup considering the problem he had, but it might have worked in his favour missing out on that run. I've set no concrete plan for him on the way [to the Melbourne Cup this year]. It just depends on what it takes to get him there in the right shape.''