In the week of the anniversary of the legendary Bart Cummings' death, a horse that holds a special place in the family's hearts will start a campaign that could result in one of Australian racing's most sentimental wins.
Wednesday marked the second anniversary of the passing of the 'Cups King' and on Saturday, a horse he bred and trained before his death will step out in the National Jockeys Trust Benchmark 84 Handicap (2000m).
The horse is Roman Son and he's trained by Bart's son Anthony and grand-son Edward.
On June 3, Roman Son won a maiden handicap at Kembla when trained by Edward's brother and now Godolphin's head trainer James Cummings before being transferred the father and son team.
A fortnight later at Newcastle he gave Edward his first winner in Bart's famous green and gold diagonal stripes with a white cap. Roman Son then ventured to Warwick Farm on June 28 when the three-year-old endorsed his building reputation when overcoming difficulties to beat the older horses.
"After his last run we decided to give him a short freshen up to see if he's able to shape up in the spring," Edward Cummings said.
"He's a horse that's come a long way in a short time in this preparation alone and we believe there's more improvement to come in subsequent preparations."
Roman Son is by Bart's former Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor, that stands at the Cummings property Princes Farm out of a mare the Australian racing legend trained, Miss Meliss, who herself ran in a Melbourne Cup, finishing 10th behind Media Puzzle in 2002.
Here's a question, if you owned a horse that's bred to stay like Roman Son and you're a member of the Cummings family – what's the race you'd be targeting him at in the spring?
"It's not often you get a genuine staying type like Roman Son and in late October there's a race down at Flemington called the Bart Cummings," Edward said.
"To even have a runner in the race would be a special thing for dad and myself and the horse's owners.
"For dad and me, he's obviously a special horse. He's a horse we have aspirations that can fly the flag into the future for Bart, for us, his owners and the stallion Roman Emperor.
"There's no doubt I get a bit sentimental when I'm talking about him and thinking of races like the Bart Cummings and who knows, maybe even a Melbourne Cup.
"Hopefully Bart's still smiling on us from above."
Roman Son will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla on Saturday and is listed as a $12 in a race that Edward Cummings says, "is another step-up" for the lightly-raced four-year-old that's having just his eighth start.
"He came through the trial last week well and he put in a really nice piece of work on the course proper on Tuesday," he said.
"Whatever reservations we might have had about running first-up at 2000m off a 60-plus day break, he dispelled to me on Tuesday.
"All the signs he's showing us are that he's a happy horse. He's eating well, he's working well and he looks great.
"If he runs well on Saturday he might run in the Kingston Town a fortnight.
"We're trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves, it's up to the horse and we'll see how it all plays out.
"The minute he gives us any indication that he's not ready for it or not happy, we'll probably put him away and start again at a later day."
On an interesting side note to the Roman Son story is a Hawkesbury maiden on Saturday where two of the 11 runners are closely linked.
His brother Britannicus, who's trained by Bart's former foreman John Thompson, will step out against Augustus, a Chris Waller-trained colt that's the half-brother to Roman Emperor.
Roman Son will run at Randwick at 12.45pm while Britannicus and Augustus do battle in the Livamol 3YO Maiden Plate (1600m) at 12.27pm.
