Written by Paul Vettise
Declares War (Declaration Of War {USA}) will make his first appearance for Matt Cumani this weekend, but the Ballarat conditioner is no stranger to the progressive 3-year-old.
The colt is one of a raft of stable changes from the past few days following the unsavoury developments surrounding former trainer Darren Weir.
“We actually bought him with Boomer Bloodstock for Domain Thoroughbreds, but due to an unfortunate set of circumstances we couldn’t train him,” Cumani said. “By a quirk of fate he’s back here again and we’re lucky to have him.
“By a quirk of fate he’s back here again and we’re lucky to have him.” – Matt Cumani.
Declares War cost $62,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is a son of the Encosta de Lago mare Kristeva. She failed to win but is a sister to the well-performed Vocabulary, whose CV features victories in the G2 Norman Carlyon S. and Group 1 placings in the Futurity S. and the Orr S.
Declares War as a yearling
Cumani hasn’t had much time to reacquaint himself with the horse, but has been impressed by what he has seen.
“He arrived in great nick. He’s in fantastic order and he had a jump-out on Tuesday morning and went really well,” he said.
“He’s in fantastic order and he had a jump-out on Tuesday morning and went really well.” – Matt Cumani.
“We are going to stick to the plan Darren had laid out and run in the Autumn S. and see where we go from there.”
Declares War placed in his first two appearances in the spring and then rattled off consecutive wins at Sandown, Moonee Valley and at Flemington before he was turned out.
“He’s been quite impressive and gets himself out of trouble well,” Cumani said.
“In all of those races he seemed to get stuck and have no chance, but got out and caught the leaders. He’s an exciting horse.”
“He’s been quite impressive and gets himself out of trouble well.” - Matt Cumani.
In his last appearance, Declares War found the line strongly to beat the older horses over 1720 metres and indicated he can progress further in distance.
Declares War winning at Flemington
“The feeling in the camp is that he can get 2000 metres,” Cumani said. “He’s sharp at a mile as well so there’s the Australian Guineas or the Randwick Guineas, but he’s got to prove himself at Group level yet.”
While Cumani was delighted to welcome back Declares War with open arms, a prior commitment will keep him away from Caulfield on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, I’m not going to be there. I’ve got a filly in the Inglis Millennium and I’d always planned to be in Sydney,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I’m not going to be there. I’ve got a filly in the Inglis Millennium and I’d always planned to be in Sydney.” – Matt Cumani.
Lady Naturaliste (Choisir) earned her spot in the Warwick Farm feature with two runner-up finishes from her three outings.
Matt Cumani
“She’s going there because she’s not quite good enough for the Blue Diamond. There are still a few challenging horses there so we’ve taken a bit of a chance. She’s drawn 10, a shocking barrier but it’s a $2 million race.
“There are a few negatives around her. It’s the other way around and she has to travel, but she is a very sensible horse.”
Lady Naturaliste was a $150,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Boomer Bloodstock for Peter Diamond and is out of the Listed Dequetteville S. winner Calcatta (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), whose mother Calchris (Commands) won two black type events.
She hails from the family of the G2 Frank Packer Plate winner and G1 Epsom H. placegetter Never Quit (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
