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Cummings claims first Australian Guineas

Saturday 13 March 2010

Bart Cummings has added his first Australian Guineas to his long list of Group One wins with Rock Classic, a replacement galloper for his Cox Plate winner So You Think.

Rock Classic has had countless gear changes to iron out his problems and with the Cummings polish put it together on Saturday to score a shock win in the 1600m feature.

Only the Cummings factor kept him solid in the market at $18 and he delivered in style with the aid of a gun ride from Michael Rodd to score a 1-1/4 length win over the Peter Moody-trained stakeswinning filly Set For Fame ($5.50) and Alister Clark Stakes winner Linton.

Raging $1.60 favourite Denman suffered his first defeat in four starts this campaign when he "punctured" in the home straight and struggled home in fourth place, 4-1/2 lengths from the winner.

Cummings had earmarked his star three-year-old So You Think for the Australian Guineas but decided to abort his autumn campaign last month and was forced to rely on Rock Classic who gave him his 258th Group One win.

"He (Rock Classic) had a few problems which we have corrected now and he stepped up from second rank and was good enough," Cummings said.

Rock Classic had earned his crack at the Guineas after he won his second race from four starts at Rosehill on February 20 but had significant gear changes on Saturday after he raced so greenly and nearly threw that race away.

Blinkers and a Norton bit were added while winkers and a lugging bit came off.

"The other day he kept looking at horses around him on the inside and outside but the blinkers corrected that problem," Cummings said.

"Apart from that the rest is easy."

The Guineas was first run in 1986 but Cummings had found it a hard race to win.

His previous placegetters were Sky Chase (second in 1988), Sir Midas (third in 1989) and Ustinov (third in 2002).

Cummings said that Rock Classic was an improving horse and would only get better.

"I think he's a very, very good horse," Cummings said.

"He is just learning what to do and I think he has got a good future."

Cummings bought the son of Fastnet Rock from Peintre Celebre mare Midnight Ballet for $275,000 as a yearling and grew so keen on him he retained a share in the gelding himself.

"I bought him and kept him because he was too good to let go," Cummings said.

He said Rock Classic would head back to Sydney for the autumn carnival without any specific targets at this stage.

Rodd said Rock Classic "pulled his way past Denman" and it was just a matter of timing his run to ensure he didn't hit the front too soon.

"It was an outstanding win," Rodd said.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said Denman cost himself the race when he overraced in second place after slightly missing the start.

"He sat second and overraced a little bit which was telling on his finishing effort," McEvoy said.

"In hindsight I wish I had have led as he might have relaxed a bit better."