Australian Racing - Racing: Cummings issues Duais backing

bet365 News Team Published: Apr 06 2022 13:31

Edward Cummings believes Duais can prove to be a serious challenger to Verry Elleegant when the pair clash in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

Verry Elleegant's trainer Chris Waller has already nominated the last-start Tancred Stakes winner as the heir apparent to his star mare's crown as leading middle distance horse in Australian and Cummings believes his charge will serve it up to the Melbourne Cup winner in this weekend's race.

Cummings upbeat on chances

Already the winner of three Group 1s, Duais is a 4/1 chance to add to her tally in a red-hot renewal of the Queen Elizabeth which is also set to feature Anabel Neasham's marauding Zaaki and Godolphin's star colt Anamoe. You can follow the action via our Sports Live Streaming platform.

Despite the strength of the opposition, Cummings is heading into the race full of confidence.

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"I wouldn't be sending her to the race if I didn't think, in my heart of hearts, that she had a winning chance," the trainer told Racing.com.

"You could arguably say that for each of them, they are coming up to the hardest race they have competed in, so we are no different to them and they are no different to us. That is why it is going to be such a wonderful race."

Duais in "good nick"

In such a competitive contest, Cummings is hoping that his mare's win in the Tancred over 2400 metres will give her an advantage over the other big guns.

"I would like to think that a run over a mile-and-a-half two weeks ago will hold her in slightly better stead than some other horses coming out of 2000-metre races three weeks ago," he continued.

"It's always hard to predict these things but she certainly is in very good nick."