Cummings thinks 4-Y-O is ready

Bart Cummings. Photo /Greg Bowker

MELBOURNE - Favourable weather this week will allow Cox Plate equal favourites So You Think and Shoot Out to clash for the first time in the Liston Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Sydney trainer Bart Cummings, fresh from his record third Fred Hoysted medal for training excellence, said he brought So You Think and other stable stars, including Cups favourite Faint Perfume, to Melbourne early to avoid wet tracks in Sydney.

"I left Sydney because it's so wet and came down here and it's worse. The drought's broken," Cummings said.

"So You Think's going along nicely. I couldn't be happier with him. He's a little overweight at the moment.

"With the drought breaking the tracks have been heavy, but we're going to do a little bit of work with him this week and with sunshine he could be running on Saturday."

The reigning Cox Plate champion has had two jumpouts at Flemington and Steven Arnold will ride him for the first time in a race in the weight-for-age event over 1400m.

Randwick Guineas and AJC Australian Derby winner Shoot Out goes into the Liston second-up after his impressive win in the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield late last month.

So You Think hasn't raced since his second to All American in the Emirates Stakes nine months ago.

The horse missed the autumn when Cummings decided he had not come back as well as he had hoped.

There were 19 nominations for the Liston, including another star of last season's 3-year-old ranks in Spring Champion Stakes and Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul.

The Mike Moroney-trained 4-year-old, like So You Think and Shoot Out, is by High Chaparral.

The horse finished third behind Shoot Out and Descarado, another son of High Chaparral, in the AJC Australian Derby and was spelled after running third to Road To Rock in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April.

He has had the benefit of a 1000m barrier trial on the cushion track at the Sunshine Coast late last month.

Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, who ran only twice in the autumn, and Shamoline Warrior, who hasn't raced since winning the Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield last spring, will represent the Mark Kavanagh stable.

Last year's Liston winner Predatory Pricer will have his first start for new trainer Mick Price on Saturday.

He hasn't raced since being injured when 12th in last year's Caulfield Cup.

Dual group one winner Heart Of Dreams, who finished fourth in last year's Liston, also resumes for Price.

The Danny O'Brien-trained Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor resumes, as does Anthony Cummings's Auckland Cup winner Zavite and Matamata galloper Sterling Prince who won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last spring.

The Lloyd Williams-owned C'est La Guerre and import Mourayan are the first wave of Cups prospects trainer Robert Hickmott will turn out in the next few weeks.

Tony Vasil has nominated Bill Stutt Stakes winner Carrara and Apprehend.

* Last year's Melbourne Cup favourite Alcopop will have a serious track gallop at Morphettville today, as trainer Jake Stephens prepares to sign off on the stayer's return to racing in Adelaide on Saturday.

"He's done a fair bit of beach work and he's been to Strathalbyn to gallop but it will be good to work him on the grass at Morphettville," Stephens said yesterday. Alcopop will resume at weight-for-age in the Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.

- AAP