Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani has two runners at Moonee Valley on Saturday he hopes can be factors during the spring carnival. Creedence will contest the Lockdown Legends Handicap, 2040m, and three-year-old colt Hit The Shot line up in the Drummond Golf Handicap, 1500m. With Creedence, Cumani freely admits they are chasing the dream of gaining a Melbourne Cup start. More realistic though for the trainer is the prospect of Hit The Shot lining up in the Victoria Derby. Cumani said Creedence, which has had three starts for him including two Flemington wins since transferring from Lindsay Park, was in great shape for his first run in seven weeks. "He's a couple of weeks behind where we want to be due to a bruised heel but in hindsight, it could be a blessing in disguise," Cumani said. "He was going to run at Moonee Valley on the day the races were abandoned and then last week it was a strong 2000 metre race at Caulfield. "This race is a little bit easier than I expected. I was dreading a wide barrier draw but he's got barrier one which could prove tricky as he can be slowly away." Cumani said Creedence could have his next start in the Naturalism Stakes and head to The Bart Cummings, otherwise he would keep him on a county Cups path. Hit The Shot, which won his debut on the Ballarat synthetic, appeals to Cumani as a derby prospect. He said Hit The Shot would have his next start in the Victoria Derby Trial, 1800m, at Flemington on September 23. "Hopefully he can go on to the Derby."
HARD TO BEAT: Creedence is a two-time Flemington winner in the three starts he has had for Matt Cumani. Picture: Racing Photos
Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani has two runners at Moonee Valley on Saturday he hopes can be factors during the spring carnival.
Creedence will contest the Lockdown Legends Handicap, 2040m, and three-year-old colt Hit The Shot line up in the Drummond Golf Handicap, 1500m.
With Creedence, Cumani freely admits they are chasing the dream of gaining a Melbourne Cup start.
More realistic though for the trainer is the prospect of Hit The Shot lining up in the Victoria Derby.
Cumani said Creedence, which has had three starts for him including two Flemington wins since transferring from Lindsay Park, was in great shape for his first run in seven weeks.
"He's a couple of weeks behind where we want to be due to a bruised heel but in hindsight, it could be a blessing in disguise," Cumani said.
"He was going to run at Moonee Valley on the day the races were abandoned and then last week it was a strong 2000 metre race at Caulfield.
"This race is a little bit easier than I expected. I was dreading a wide barrier draw but he's got barrier one which could prove tricky as he can be slowly away."
Cumani said Creedence could have his next start in the Naturalism Stakes and head to The Bart Cummings, otherwise he would keep him on a county Cups path.
Hit The Shot, which won his debut on the Ballarat synthetic, appeals to Cumani as a derby prospect.
He said Hit The Shot would have his next start in the Victoria Derby Trial, 1800m, at Flemington on September 23. "Hopefully he can go on to the Derby."
