Holidaying trainer Anthony Cummings hopes to finish his career-best season on a winning note in the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm, the final Group race of the season.Cummings, who is in Thailand, will have bonny mare Prima Nova and stablemate Messenger lining up for the final starts of their careers in Saturday's 1400-metre feature.The trainer has won five Group One races this season, easily the best performance of his career.His major wins have come from Turffontein (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Wil
Holidaying trainer Anthony Cummings hopes to finish his career-best season on a winning note in the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm, the final Group race of the season.
Cummings, who is in Thailand, will have bonny mare Prima Nova and stablemate Messenger lining up for the final starts of their careers in Saturday's 1400-metre feature.
The trainer has won five Group One races this season, easily the best performance of his career.
His major wins have come from Turffontein (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, William Reid Stakes), Road To Rock (George Main Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes) and Zavite (Auckland Cup).
He has a soft spot for both mares and hopes one of them can go out a winner.
Prima Nova was runner-up in last year's Winter Stakes to Russeting, prepared by Cummings' father Bart.
Prima Nova has started only once in Brisbane this winter when she finished seventh to the Peter Moody-trained Set For Fame in the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 5.
It was her first outing for six weeks following her eye-catching sixth to Sacred Choice in the Group Two Emancipation Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 24.
Cummings hopes a win from the daughter of Danehill Dancer will earn her the kudos she deserves before she heads to the breeding barn.
"This is the last run for both of them and they've both done good jobs," Cummings said.
"Prima Nova has been a wonderful mare and has been unlucky a few times because her racing style of getting back is against her.
"It would be a fitting way for her to go to stud if she can win this."
Prima Nova's last win was in the Listed J R A Plate (2000m) at Randwick in April last year.
Cummings believed Prima Nova was unlucky not to win the Emancipation Stakes in Sydney and was pleased with her first run back after a let-up in the Dane Ripper.
"She got stuck in some heavy traffic in the Emancipation and arguably she could have won with a clear run or at least been placed," he said.
"I'm very pleased with the way she's going in Brisbane and her run in the Dane Ripper was good.
"The speed was against her but she made up good ground and she'll go into the Winter Stakes in much stronger shape."
Messenger will be making her Brisbane debut in the Winter Stakes after a two month break since finishing a fading eighth in the Emancipation Stakes at her last appearance.
The four-year-old daughter of Choisir has won three of her 16 starts including two at Listed level in the Belle Of The Turf (1600m) at Gosford last October and the Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in March.
"She didn't get a run in the Stradbroke which was unfortunate," Cummings said.
"The distance will really suit her and I'm confident she's up to this grade.
"She's won a couple of stakes races already so this will be her last run too."
Shane Scriven will be reunited with Prima Nova after riding her in last year's Winter Stakes while Cummings has yet to find a jockey for Messenger.