Flight a big step for College Romance

Anthony & Edward Cummings photo Courtesy of ATC

Co-trainer Edward Cummings is treating College Romance’s step up to the Group One Flight Stakes as a learning experience.

College Romance, the outsider in the field, was a late nomination and comes into Saturday’s 1600m-race off a close second in a 1400m-maiden at Kembla Grange.

Cummings, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, said he did not believe it was a vintage Flight Stakes.

“There’s a case to be made that it’s probably not the strongest Flight Stakes in recent memory,” Cummings said.

“It’s an opportunity at stakes grade for a three-year-old filly, an opportunity to give her a chance against some good horses.

“She’s worked up with some of our better three-year-old fillies here and always held her own.”

Godolphin filly Alizee, a last-start winner of the Group Two Tea Rose (1400m), is the TAB’s favourite.

Despite College Romance’s long odds, Cummings believes the step up in distance is in her favour after she was disappointing at her first two starts over 1100 and 1200 metres.

“The fact she showed something third-up going to the 1400 and the feedback from (jockey) Peter Wells was she’d be comfortable at a mile and more than capable in city company once she put it all together,” he said.

“We’re a long shot but we’re confident she can run out a mile.”

Credit: AAP

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