Fiveandahalfstar is back in work with the four-year-old to be aimed towards the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup. The 2012 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) winner missed this year’s Spring Racing Carnival with a fetlock injuryfollowing a tough victory over older horses in The BMW (2400m) in Sydney in April. 

Runner-up in the 2013 Australian Cup (2000m), trainer Anthony Cummings said the son of Hotel Grand will be given a light autumn campaign before concentrating on the Spring.

“At this stage his future program looks to be Sydney-based in the autumn with a view to having a shortened program compared to what he’s done in the past so that he can come back bright and well for the Spring in Melbourne,” Cummings said.

“He’s been back in work for about a week and he looks really healthy and well.

“The issue that he had with his fetlock has settled nicely and touch wood it won’t be an issue for him going forward.

“The right (autumn) preparation for him is probably going through the Doncaster (1600m) into the Queen Elizabeth (2000m) and then he’ll have a break and come back for a Spring campaign aimed at the Melbourne Cup next year.”

Cummings said Fiveandahalfstar would likely target a weight-for-age path through the Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) en route the Melbourne Cup. 

Click to watch Fiveandahalfstar’s win in the AAMI Victoria Derby or the BMW