Racing: Cummings hopes history will repeat in Guineas

Cummings said jockey Damien Oliver talked him out of running Wordplay over 2000m in the Ethereal Stakes on Saturday. Photo / Thinkstock

Trainer Anthony Cummings is holding on to the slim hope short-priced favourite Guelph comes undone in today's Thousand Guineas, recalling Sydney's star filly ran the worst race of her career at Caulfield.

Cummings, who runs $15 chance Wordplay against the $1.40 favourite, reckons Guelph had a hard time of it when she finished ninth in the Blue Diamond in February at Caulfield.

"If she runs her best race she will probably beat us but the thing is, her worst race ever was at Caulfield ... so it is back to the scene of the crime."

While Cummings says Wordplay is in good form for the 1600m race, her main aim is the VRC Oaks over 2500m next month.

"She may not be in Guelph's class but just the same, she is probably better over a mile and a quarter, a mile and a half," he said.

"That's where she is headed and this is a nice stepping stone to that."

Cummings said jockey Damien Oliver talked him out of running Wordplay over 2000m in the Ethereal Stakes on Saturday in preference to the Thousand Guineas.

He said Wordplay's last-start fifth in the Edward Manifold Stakes was pleasing after she got too far back early to be effective but made her way through the traffic and kept working to the finish line.