Drago, one of trainer Anthony Cummings's outsiders for the Victoria Derby. Source: Mark Evans / DailyTelegraph
IF ANYBODY knows how to spring a Derby Day upset, trainer Anthony Cummings is your man.
Cummings did it last year with $41 outsider Fiveandahalfstar.
And now he will rely on colts Drago and Thunder Fantasy - $35 and $51 respectively with the TAB - to cause a Flemington feature blowout.
Cummings found it hard to split his pair ahead of tomorrow's race, but said he wouldn't be shocked if either of his hopes got the cash.
"Drago is a cool dude, he's got a good attitude, good ability and in my view he will stay," Cummings said.
"His run last week was a bit of a bolt out of the blue. He went fast into the first turn, and we didn't expect that.
"We needed to sit back and have a look at how the horse coped with the run, but he hadn't missed an oat, and he looked bright and well afterwards.
"Damien (Oliver) rode him Wednesday morning - just as he did with Fiveandahalfstar last year - and while it's not the sort of form pattern I wanted to see going into the race, each of his runs have been full of merit.
"Thunder Fantasy is probably a little more brilliant, he'll be able to sit a little closer, and he's suffered from a couple of bad barriers his past couple of starts."
Drago was right near the top of betting when Derby markets first opened, and caught the eye first-up in the Up And Coming Stakes. But he's failed to troubl his rivals since.
He charged to the front in the Vase last week before he quickly tired in the straight, and will now need to overcome the outside barrier.
Thunder Fantasy was labelled a "sneaky chance" by jockey Peter Robl, who said: "He's a very good ride, and his run in the Spring Champion Stakes was good when ridden quiet. The only unknown is if he'll get the 2500m. But in the Spring Champion he proved he's got the temperament and will settle and relax in the run, which gives us a chance to get Saturday's journey."
Robl, a regular rider of Drago in Sydney, said that horse would definitely run the Derby trip, and didn't deserve to be at such long odds given his one poor run last weekend.
Cummings said the horse to beat was another Sydneysider, Complacent, and said of Darley's top hope: "His work last Tuesday was amongst the best of the morning. If he takes that gallop into the Derby, he'll be very, very hard to beat."
Meanwhile, Darley boss Henry Plumptre pointed out the sire of Complacent, Authorized, was now doing his best work in Chile trying to "improve the bloodlines".
Darley stablemate San Diego will be ridden by Steven Arnold, who said after his mount drew favourably in barrier six: "I think the draw brings him right into the mix. The horse can be a bit aggressive, and he just needs a bit of cover to relax. He'll be able to do that from the draw, and he's gone from fringe player to being right in with a chance."
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