Matt Cumani, trainer from Ballarat, recognises the Stakes-winning potential in colt Deal Done Fast, but the stable’s main aim is to notch up a maiden victory first.
Both goals might materialise this Saturday at Flemington in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m), provided the colt mends his slow starts from the barriers.
With seven starts behind him yet winless, Deal Done Fast’s sluggish departures have led to specialised barrier drills by Cumani’s crew since his Australian Derby (2400m) effort at Randwick on April 4.
Earlier in the season, he secured third position in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
“He threw his race away right at the beginning last time and I’m still trying to work out exactly what he did, but it’s starting to look like a pattern now,” Cumani said.
“I gave him a pass mark for the first two runs of the prep.
“In his first race, it was a short distance, and he got squeezed as he came out of the barriers, in his second race he wasn’t concentrating and for him to come out slowly for the third race of his prep, it was a worrying pattern.
“We’ve done a bit of barrier work, and he seems to be breaking well enough, and he has no issues in the gates but is just a bit slow into stride.
“I’m hoping over 2800 metres at Flemington, that shouldn’t be a problem and if he happens to do it again, he’ll have plenty of time to make up the ground.”
Cumani’s prior St Leger success came in 2023 with Dunwoody at Sandown’s 3000m distance, postponed four days after Dean Holland’s deadly incident at Donald on Anzac Day’s eve.
“When we won it, it was with a horse that probably had no rights to win a Stakes race, but having said that it was 3000 metres and now it’s back to 2800 metres,” Cumani said.
“It’s a tougher race this year than when we won it.”
By skipping a nomination for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville next Saturday week, Cumani removes one dilemma.
A potential next step could be the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm the following month.
“There is another Derby left if we want to go down that path, but I just want to see him win a race,” Cumani said.
“He’s been an unlucky maiden.
“He should have won his first race, he was beaten a bob of the head, so he’s still got that tag, and it would be nice to get that sorted first.
“If he could do it in the St Leger, that would be fantastic and if not, we might look at other options before we put him away for a break.”
Te Taniwha will represent Cumani in the Saturday contest as well.
“He’s been crying out for ground, and this has been a bit of a long-range plan for him,” Cumani said.
“We would have liked to have seen him do a bit more in his last race, but it’s got such a long tail this race that its always worthwhile having a horse in it for the prize money and it gives everyone a nice day at Flemington.”
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