20 Years On, Cummings Wants Another Oaks

Monday, 20 February 0705 00:00

Promising staying filly Very Grand will attempt to give master trainer Bart Cummings his second Queensland Oaks, 20 years after he won his first with Round The World.

Very Grand put herself in the mix for the Group One race on June 2 when she finished the day as the punters' pal with victory in the Jim Beam and Oyster Bay Hcp (1550m) at Canterbury.

Backed into $1.85 favouritism after $2.50 was on offer, Very Grand travelled nicely throughout and went to the line strongly under Blake Shinn to beat Piercing by 1-1/2 lengths.

"The idea is to take her to the Queensland Oaks," Cummings said.

"I think the distance (2400m) will suit.

"She finishes off her races pretty well so we will aim for the Group One."

Cummings' other Group One aspirants over the winter carnival will include Empires Choice who is bound for the Queensland Derby and Imagining who will be aimed at the Stradbroke Handicap.

Accumulate, who won his first race for two years at Rosehill on Saturday, will be set for the Group Two Brisbane Cup.