Cumani chases second St Leger win

Trainer Matt Cumani knows Deal Done Fast has the ability to be a Stakes winner, but first the Ballarat conditioner just wants to get a win on the board with the colt. 

Both may come at Flemington on Saturday in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m), provided Deal Done Fast can improve his barrier manners. 

A maiden after seven starts, Deal Done Fast has developed the annoying habit of stepping slowly which has resulted in Cumani and his team doing some remedial work with the colt since his most recent effort in the Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 4. 

In the spring, Deal Done Fast finished third in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington. 

"He threw his race away right at the beginning last time and I'm still trying to work out exactly what he did, but it's starting to look like a pattern now," Cumani said. 

"I gave him a pass mark for the first two runs of the prep. 

"In his first race, it was a short distance, and he got squeezed as he came out of the barriers, in his second race he wasn't concentrating and for him to come out slowly for the third race of his prep, it was a worrying pattern. 

"We've done a bit of barrier work, and he seems to be breaking well enough, and he has no issues in the gates but is just a bit slow into stride. 

"I'm hoping over 2800 metres at Flemington, that shouldn't be a problem and if he happens to do it again, he'll have plenty of time to make up the ground." 

Cumani won the St Leger with Dunwoody in 2023 at Sandown over 3000m when the race was held back four days following the death of Dean Holland in a race fall at Donald on Anzac Day eve. 

"When we won it, it was with a horse that probably had no rights to win a Stakes race, but having said that it was 3000 metres and now it's back to 2800 metres," Cumani said. 

"It's a tougher race this year than when we won it." 

Cumani said he would take temptation away by not entering Deal Done Fast for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday week. 

He said if there were thoughts of progressing to another Derby, the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm next month could be on the agenda. 

"There is another Derby left if we want to go down that path, but I just want to see him win a race," Cumani said. 

"He's been an unlucky maiden. 

"He should have won his first race, he was beaten a bob of the head, so he's still got that tag, and it would be nice to get that sorted first. 

"If he could do it in the St Leger, that would be fantastic and if not, we might look at other options before we put him away for a break." 

Cumani will also saddle Te Taniwha in Saturday's race. 

"He's been crying out for ground, and this has been a bit of a long-range plan for him," Cumani said. 

"We would have liked to have seen him do a bit more in his last race, but it's got such a long tail this race that its always worthwhile having a horse in it for the prize money and it gives everyone a nice day at Flemington."