Racing: Cup king breaks drought

Bart Cummings is the undisputed King of the Melbourne Cup, but he endured over a decade without winning a big race in Sydney. Until yesterday.

Cummings finally broke his 11-year Group One drought when Roman Emperor took out the AJC Australian Derby.

The Randwick Classic for 3-year-olds is as old as the Melbourne Cup, with a list of winners since 1861 that has included greats like Phar Lap, Tulloch, Kingston Town and Octagonal.

Jockey Jim Cassidy was so elated with his win he jumped from his mount in the winner's circle and whooped: "Ring-a-ding-ding, I've won for the King!"

Cummings combined with Malaysian multi-millionaire Dato Tan Chin Nam in the same trainer-owner combination that snapped up yet another Melbourne Cup last year with outsider Viewed.

That was Cummings' 12th Melbourne Cup and the Malaysian owner's fourth.

"It's great to think we've broken this drought," a beaming Cummings said. "We've had more success in Melbourne than Sydney, but we're going to make that up in the next couple of months."

Cassidy said it was every jockey's dream to win an Australian Derby for the master trainer.

"From the bottom of my toes to the top of my head, this is the greatest Group One win I've ever had," he said after piloting Roman Emperor home ahead of New Zealander Harris Tweed and Predatory Pricer in the 2400m event.

For Cambridge trainer Bjorn Baker it was a case of the one that just got away after he and his father won last year with Nom Du Jeu.

"We've got to be happy, he ran a great race," Baker said of Harris Tweed."It just wasn't to be but it was a huge result for Montjeu."

The sire of the winner and runner-up, Montjeu is now with Coolmore Ireland.

It was the 252nd Group One victory for Cummings, but his first in Sydney since 1998.

The other Group One race went to Melbourne jockey Craig Williams, who booted home the David Hayes-trained 3-year-old Nicconi in The Galaxy.

- AAP