The Doomben Cup and not the Queensland Oaks is looming as the Group One winter target for Miss Darcey after she lines up in the Gold Coast Bracelet.Trainer Anthony Cummings believes Miss Darcey has the credentials to perform at weight-for-age but much depends on how she performs in Saturday's Bracelet (1800m).Miss Darcey finished third in the AJC Australian Oaks with her stablemate Nothin' Leica Cat fourth in the Classic and a rival again on Saturday.It is Miss Darcey's explosive win in the Adri
The Doomben Cup and not the Queensland Oaks is looming as the Group One winter target for Miss Darcey after she lines up in the Gold Coast Bracelet.
Trainer Anthony Cummings believes Miss Darcey has the credentials to perform at weight-for-age but much depends on how she performs in Saturday's Bracelet (1800m).
Miss Darcey finished third in the AJC Australian Oaks with her stablemate Nothin' Leica Cat fourth in the Classic and a rival again on Saturday.
It is Miss Darcey's explosive win in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) a week before the Oaks that has Cummings believing she can be effective against older horses in the Doomben Cup (2020m) on May 16.
"I think the fillies have been stronger this year than for the past couple and she is a very strong filly," Cummings said.
"She is entered for the Queensland Derby as well as the Oaks but I would love to have a go at the Doomben Cup with her.
"Nothin' Leica Cat is also entered for both the Derby and the Oaks but everything depends on how they do on Saturday.
"If Miss Darcey goes as well as I think she will and then runs in the Doomben Cup that will pretty much pull her up this preparation.
"But we may decide to go to the longer races with both of them.
"Nothin' Leica Cat has pleased me with how she has come along this preparation even though she is still a maiden."
The filly is by sire of sprinters Tale Of The Cat but has stoutness on her distaff side with her dam Nothin' Leica Ripa an unraced daughter of 1995 Victoria Derby winner Nothin' Leica Dane.
Miss Darcey is by Hussonet whose best progeny have also excelled over the shorter distances but her mother Miss Bussell ran third in the 2002 Queensland Derby (2400m).
The Cummings stable will also be represented on Saturday by Prima Nova who contests the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and she is also on the path towards the Doomben Cup.
The four-year-old was a half-head second to Divine Rebel in the Epona Stakes (1900m) on March 28 before coming from near last on the home turn to win the Listed JRA Plate (2000m) three weeks later.