If someone told Matt Cumani that a Derby would be the first G1 win on his CV as a trainer, he wouldn’t raise an eyebrow.
The Ballarat horseman, himself a son of dual Epsom Derby-winning trainer Luca Cumani, has a knack with classic-style three-year-olds and has gone close to Derby success several times via the likes of Hit The Shot, Deal Done Fast and Kingofwallstreet.
If the same person told Matt Cumani that Derby winner in question would be a youngster by speed sire Anders, there’d at least be a wry smile.
It will be on show at Morphettville on Saturday, where Cumani’s multiple Stakes-winning three-year-old Single Choice tackles the $1 million SA Derby over 2500m.
Cumani bought Single Choice for $80,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale in New Zealand and admits he didn’t quite have feature races over staying trips in mind for the horse.
“While he didn’t strike me as an out and out Derby horse, one way or another I’ve ended up with a horse that could just be exactly what I need,” Cumani said.
“I am quite keen when I’m trying to buy Derby horses to not buy the typical big, slogging type.
“I try to aim to buy a Guineas-type horse and that’s probably what I had in my mind with a horse like this.
“People always say different things to you when you’re preparing a horse to run in a Derby and often I hear that you want a genuine stayer but I’m not convinced about that.
“Obviously they need some stamina but they also need a bit of speed to be able to counter some of the problems with the way many Derbies are run in Australia.
“Often, they are run very slowly and you need a horse with some speed.
“A bit like Observer in the VRC Derby – he was able to go fast early to put himself into a position and then slow it up to make it difficult for those behind to catch him when he accelerated again.
“I’m hoping Single Choice has got that.”
It’s been in races over 1600m and beyond that Single Choice has excelled.
He ran third to subsequent G1 winner Panova in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the spring before returning this preparation to land the G2 Autumn Classic over 1800m.
Cumani tested his staying prowess in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) last start and a comfortable win meant he passed with flying colours, albeit Cumani still has doubts about the gelding if Saturday’s race is run at above-average tempo.
“It probably wasn’t the true test of 2400m last start that we can say categorically that he does stay,” he said.
“If the Derby is run in the same way that the Galilee Series Final was, I’d be very happy with my horse’s chances.
“If it’s run at a genuine tempo, which is unlikely historically, then there’s still a question mark in my mind.
“But he’s had a good couple of weeks and his gallop on Tuesday was excellent.
“He is getting a bit deep into the preparation now but he’s a horse that is handling his racing very well.”
Single Choice is $17 in Bet365’s SA Derby market, which is headed by emerging import Accidental Bid ($3.25) and ATC Oaks placegetter After Summer ($5).
