Bart Cummings & Allez Wonder

Adelaide Advertiser

MATT STEWART
September 30, 2009 11:30pm
..THE Cups King has a problem - too many Cups contenders.

Bart Cummings' chances of winning a 13th Melbourne Cup, or a seventh Caulfield Cup, improved marginally yesterday when Allez Wonder scored a narrow win at Moonee Valley.

Cummings has always had a high opinion of Allez Wonder, a hard-luck mare whose third in last year's VRC Oaks partially qualified her for a start in both Cups this year.

She is still a long way down the ballot list for both races and would have to win a major lead-up race to be assured of a start in either.

Reg Fleming, Cummings' long-time Melbourne foreman, said he hoped the boss didn't intend to run Allez Wonder in the Herbert Power Handicap at Caulfield on October 10, a traditional springboard to the Caulfield Cup a week later.

"If he does, we'll have half the field," Fleming joked, saying Dandaad and Precedence were certain Herbert Power runners, with Noble Escort a possible starter.

Asked how many Cups contenders Cummings had on his hands, Fleming said: "No idea, too many to count."

Cummings has limited time and few alternatives other than a tilt at the Herbert Power -- and probably risk being balloted from it -- if Allez Wonder is to sneak into the Caulfield Cup.

Allez Wonder's narrow but solid win in yesterday's Pacific Communications Handicap (2040m) prompted TAB Sportsbet to trim her Caulfield Cup quote to $61 and her Melbourne Cup price to $51.

Winning jockey Damien Oliver said Allez Wonder would "stay all day".

Oliver took a pot-shot at yesterday's Valley surface.

"It was grubby racing, which it always is here with the rail out," he said.

Fleming said the Cummings Cup squad was taking shape.

AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor has arrived in Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup and settled in well.

Fleming said Viewed, last year's Melbourne Cup winner who will use Saturday's Turnbull Stakes as a stepping stone to the first Tuesday in November, was "flying".

"He's going. He's the toughest horse I've ever had in 15 years with Bart. He's going better than last year, or at least as good," he said.