KEY POINTS:
Melbourne's hottest rider and the in-form Sydney stable of trainer Anthony Cummings joined forces with predictable results at Moonee Valley yesterday.
Cummings, who is enjoying a stellar season, saddled up Casino Prince to win the Group Two Alister Clarke Stakes (1600m).
And it was thanks to some good advice and a ride to match from Damien Oliver that the colt landed the best win of his career.
Oliver rode Casino Prince for the first time when he finished fifth over 1200m at Caulfield one month ago. After the race he suggested Cummings add winkers to Casino Prince's gear to help him concentrate.
"We had a chat with Damien and he gave us a few ideas," Cummings said.
"Today he backed them up with a very good ride."
Oliver took Casino Prince straight to the tail of the field after the gates opened and stayed there until the 300m mark.
With the leaders setting an even pace, Oliver was able to wait until well into the straight before giving Casino Prince full rein and the colt responded brilliantly to score by 1 1/4 lengths.
The $3.70 favourite Furio, who made his run from second last, held on for second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of Ambitious General.
Oliver has shown in the past week that he has rediscovered his best form after almost two years of dealing with life-threatening injuries. Last Saturday at Caulfield he scored his first Group One win in two years, aboard El Segundo in the C F Orr Stakes, and then rode a treble at the Hobart Cup meeting, including the Cup winner Blutigeroo.
Casino Prince now looks likely to tackle the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) this year at Caulfield.
But Cummings was pleased merely to see Casino Prince back in the form he showed as a 2-year-old.
- AAP
