NOW, for his next trick. Racing's master magician, Bart Cummings, has amazed everyone with his performance in dominating the big races in Melbourne this year.
After Cummings won the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday with So You Think at the three-year-old's fifth start, it became obvious that the remarkable JB Cummings was on the verge of his greatest spring.
So You Think's win came after Cummings had won the group 1 Toorak Handicap with Allez Wonder and quinellaed the group 1 Caulfield Cup with Viewed and Roman Emperor.
With the Melbourne Spring Carnival moving to Flemington, no one would bet against Cummings landing more group 1 glory.
"I read this morning that winning the Cox Plate with a virtually untried horse at the top level like So You Think was my best ever trick," the veteran campaigner said yesterday.
"Hopefully I might have one or two more rabbits in the hat for the spring just yet."
Still to come for the 82-year-old trainer are the Mackinnon Stakes, Melbourne Cup and VRC Oaks.
He has realistic hopes in those group 1 races, and to add them to his tally in one spring is perhaps a trick that only a headline act such as Cummings is capable of pulling off.
His biggest and best caper could be yet to come with unheralded stayer Dandaad or maiden galloper Think Money.
Cummings has not given up on having four runners in the Melbourne Cup on November 3 by qualifying either Dandaad or Think Money on Saturday for the nation's greatest race.
Cummings already has Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder revved up and ready to try to give him his 13th Melbourne Cup.
For Cummings to dominate the 24-horse Cup field with four runners, Dandaad would have to win the 2500m Lexus Quality on Derby Day at Flemington.
Cummings is toying with backing up Think Money in the Lexus. She is yet to win in 21 starts but has been placed in the group 1 Oaks over 2400m.
Think Money battled on fairly when third in the Cathay Pacific Airways Cup over 2500m on Saturday.
The winner of the Lexus, which used to be the SAAB Quality and before that the Hotham Handicap, qualifies for the Cup.
Dandaad's big moment so far in the spring was finishing second to Leica Ding in the Geelong Cup last week.
"We will have three runners. . . maybe four in the Cup if Dandaad or Think Money can qualify," Cummings said.
"Think Money ran well yesterday but she only finished third, so she would have to improve sharply if she backs up Saturday.
"I know it might seem a big thing to get Dandaad in, but I have said all spring that you have to be in it to win it.
"The more the merrier, I say, when it comes to the Cup."
Cummings confirmed that Viewed and Roman Emperor would have their final lead-up to the Melbourne Cup in the 2000m group 1 Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.
"That is the plan right now, but like that old song says, what will be will be," he said.
In a major surprise, Cummings has elected to run his Cox Plate hero, So You Think, in the Mackinnon.
Cummings originally pencilled in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) a week later as the next start for the three-year-old.
But after celebrating the Cox Plate win with owner Dato Tan Chin Nam and inspecting So You Think yesterday, Cummings decided to put him in the 2000m weight-for-age race.
"He talked it over with Dato, who is happy to run him," Dato Tan racing manager Duncan Ramage said.
"As Dato said, he's now the people's horse and they should get to see him."
Craig Williams has been booked to replace Glen Boss, who was suspended after his Cox Plate ride.
Cummings has a big chance of winning the group 1 VRC Oaks with Faint Perfume.
Faint Perfume ran on strongly and finished third in the group 1 Thousand Guineas over 1600m on October 15.
"The filly is good. In fact all my horses are good, and they are making me feel good," Cummings quipped. with AAP
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