Anthony Cummings admits he won't know until race day whether an inside barrier is a blessing or a burden for Turffontein in his quest to claim a third Group One in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.The straight six course can be unpredictable making it difficult for both the connections of runners and punters to work out where the best ground might be.Turffontein has come up with gate two in the field of 19 while stablemate Five Car Stud has drawn immediately to his outside."Running up the st

Anthony Cummings admits he won't know until race day whether an inside barrier is a blessing or a burden for Turffontein in his quest to claim a third Group One in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

The straight six course can be unpredictable making it difficult for both the connections of runners and punters to work out where the best ground might be.

Turffontein has come up with gate two in the field of 19 while stablemate Five Car Stud has drawn immediately to his outside.

"Running up the straight, it just depends on what's happening on the day," Cummings said.

"It might be good, it might not be, you just don't know.

"But the horse (Turffontein) trialled very well on Tuesday so I'm looking forward to the race and looking forward to a bit of rain."

Since being injured in the Telegraph Handicap in New Zealand in January 2009, Turffontein has appreciated racing on rain-affected tracks.

His two Group One triumphs in the Rupert Clarke Stakes last spring and the William Reid last month both came on dead ground.

Flemington was rated a dead (5) on Friday with rain forecast in Melbourne overnight.

The under-rated sprinter tuned up for Saturday's Newmarket with a jump-out at Flemington on Tuesday, along with several of his major rivals.

"I thought Trusting was the best horse in the first heat and I figured Turffy was pick of the ones in the second heat," Cummings said.

"The first heat was marginally quicker, the second heat was marginally quicker to the line, so there's probably nothing between the two of them."

When asked to nominate the biggest danger to Turffontein, Cummings nominated "half the field", indicative of the strength of Saturday's sprint.

Turffontein has firmed from $21 to $18 with TAB Sportsbet which has All Silent favourite at $5.50.

The Grahame Begg-trained All Silent has turned in some average track gallops in the lead up, prompting some to question whether he is going as well this preparation.

Begg is adamant the horse is an ordinary worker and saves his best for race day when the blinkers go on.

Cummings says he won't be underestimating the favourite.

"I wouldn't be writing him off on his work," Cummings said.

"He's not a renowned trackworker, I thought it was in line with the way he's trialled before and I think if you assess him on anything but his best you'd be taking a risk."

Five Car Stud is the outsider of the Newmarket field at $126 but Cummings is happy he deserves his place.

"He's just been injury-plagued along the way but he's there and he gets his chance in a race that I think suits him."