Goulburn races Edward Cummings Empire Royal Duais

Empire Royal was intricately bred to capitalise on a double-cross of the stamina of Sadler’s Wells to balance the blistering speed of his grand-dam, Nanny Maroon and her aptly-named daughter – De Lightning Ridge.

Having crafted the perfect mating, Empire Royal’s breeder/owner, Karen Anderson found the perfect trainer in Edward Cummings whose own classic credentials became evident thanks to Duais’ winter Oaks win.

Cummings, given his proximity to Empire Royal, can see much more in the Goulburn bound gelding than the bookies who sent the horse out as a 100 to one shot in both of his only two starts.

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While he was never a factor on debut, the experience, coupled with a step up in trip saw a much improved performance at Nowra 15-days later.

‘’He has certainly come on since that run the other day where he jumped out of the ground with the blinkers on and up in trip,’’ Cummings reported.

‘’That was on a soft track and the Asterns certainly do seem to appreciate a bit of cut in the ground.’’

Empire Royal’s Nowra pilot, Jess Taylor, more than earned the right to be there for today’s Ray White Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 2150m.

“Going to 1800m probably would have been a more conservative option but Empire Royal is at a point in the preparation now where he is coping with the work well enough,’’ Cummings says.

‘’His coat is starting to improve which is good timing and I think he can run well on Tuesday.’’

It’s not impossible that Empire Royal will one day make it to a Derby or a Cup of some description with Cummings adamant about one thing – the horse will stay.

‘’He is a very big, strong horse with a big action,’’ Cummings said.

‘’In fact, he has got one of the biggest actions of any horse that I have ever had since I have been here (training at Hawkesbury) on my own.’’

Cummings will wait until race morning to make a decision on whether the regally-bred Lava will partner Empire Royal on the float.

Lava, a great grandson of Japan Cup winner Horlicks (aka the mother of 2000 Melbourne Cup winner, Brew) is scheduled to contest Wymap Transport Class 1 Handicap (1400m).

‘’The track would definitely need to improve to want to go there. The alternative is to run him in a Class 1 over 1400 on Sunday at Hawkesbury,’’ said Cummings.

‘’I don’t think is a ‘duffer’ but first-up on a heavy track is never a good recipe for the rest of the prep.’’

Lava is a six-year-old gelding with just a dozen runs on his C.V and could have easily made the grade had circumstances allowed.

‘’I still think he can be a pretty good horse,’’ Cummings says.

“He was all over the mark last prep; he won, he ran second, third, fourth in town at distances ranging from 1300m to a mile and a half and we were behind the eight-ball with him that prep yet he acquitted himself really well.’’

Originally published as Goulburn Preview: Edward Cummings-trained Empire Royal to outstay his rivals on Tuesday