Fresh from his win with Zavite in the Launceston Cup on Wednesday, trainer Anthony Cummings will chase another feature race with Road To Rock in the Listed Sportingbet Gold Cup at Caulfield.Road To Rock is getting ready for the $1 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday week and Cummings is predicting a big run from the Encosta De Lago four-year-old over the same distance on Saturday.The entire goes into the race third-up after an encouraging short head second to Largo Lad over
Fresh from his win with Zavite in the Launceston Cup on Wednesday, trainer Anthony Cummings will chase another feature race with Road To Rock in the Listed Sportingbet Gold Cup at Caulfield.
Road To Rock is getting ready for the $1 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday week and Cummings is predicting a big run from the Encosta De Lago four-year-old over the same distance on Saturday.
The entire goes into the race third-up after an encouraging short head second to Largo Lad over 1200m at Flemington when resuming on January 31 followed by a half-head win over Bolle over 1500m at Moonee Valley on February 14.
"He's in form and he'll improve again from his win last start," Cummings said.
"Second-up at 1500 metres probably just saw him out in terms of fitness. He'd pretty much had enough on the line but he's done very well since and he's certain to be the testing material on Saturday."
Damien Oliver, who rode Road To Rock last start and also won the Listed Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on him last April, has the mount again on Saturday.
Road To Rock drew barrier five in the 10-horse field which includes 2007 Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz, Bendigo, Colac and Mornington Cup winner Banana Man, Kilmore Cup winner Ab Almalik, 2007 VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss and last-start Caulfield 1800m winner God's Hand.
David Hayes has made two gear changes on Kibbutz in an effort to make him race straighter after he hung in when seventh first-up in the race won by Road To Rock at the Valley.
The Golan four-year-old will wear a bubble-cheeker on his near side for the first time while the lugging bit is off.
Road To Rock is at $15 for the Australian Cup with TAB Sportsbet fixed odds while Kibbutz is at $26.
Meanwhile, Zavite left on a flight out of Launceston at 1am (AEDT) on Thursday and returned to Cummings' Caulfield stables.
"He's back in familiar surroundings and is a little bit tired," Cummings said of the gelding who played up on the float trip to the course and took skin off both hips but was passed fit to run by stewards.
Cummings said the Zabeel six-year-old would now be aimed at the Group Two $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday week.
"It (the Adelaide Cup) looks a nice race for him. It's probably on a par with the depth of the field he raced against yesterday," he said.
"It will be his first run at 3200 metres and I am keen to get him to that trip."