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James Cummings believes Traffic Warden is ready to take the fight to Growing Empire in the Coolmore Stud Stakes after encountering a speed bump at The Everest.
James Cummings admits taking on favourite Growing Empire in the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes is a "daunting" prospect but expects Traffic Warden to be right in the mix.
The son of Street Boss hit a speed bump at The Everest last month when scratched at the barriers, but has had a solid preparation since returning to Flemington.
It is a track where Traffic Warden has tasted success in the past, triumphing in the Group 2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400m in March.
"He's absolutely flying," Cummings said ahead of Saturday's 1200m Group 1 stallion-making contest.
"He was huge in the Run To The Rose and big against Broadsiding in the Golden Rose (both in September).
"Now that he's back to six furlongs up the straight, back at Flemington where he's won before ... he should be looking pretty good coiled up behind some of those good chances."
Star jockey Jamie Kah will ride Traffic Warden - currently second-favourite behind Growing Empire - after partnering the colt in a promising jump-out at Flemington last week.
"We were so grateful to see him jump out nicely up the straight and get a good feel for Flemington again," Cummings said.
"It was the first time he's seen that straight and that'll help the horse, but it's also a good way for us to keep his back down so that he's ready to give his best in the Coolmore.
"He pleased me, Jamie Kah was delighted with him and we would therefore be confident that he's in the right frame of mind for the weekend.
"But it's a different beast, Derby Day, and he's really going to need to absorb that sort of pressure and atmosphere to be hailed the winner of the Coolmore.
"That would be a huge result for us for the week."
Yulong Investments is seeking another major spring carnival victory with Growing Empire after snaring the Cox Plate through Via Sistina's record-breaking performance.
The highly-valuable son of Zoustar has been in hot form, placing in Group 1 contests The Everest and Manikato Stakes for trainer Ciaron Maher at his past two starts.
"Coming up against Growing Empire, who's a winner up the straight here already, that's daunting," Cummings said.
"But we feel like we've equipped Traffic Warden nicely to be able to take him on and do battle against him in the Coolmore, which really should be the race of the day."
Cummings also has Melbourne Cup hopeful Zardozi in the $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day, while the Godolphin trainer's father Anthony Cummings will saddle up favourite El Castello in the $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m).
El Castello is seeking to become the first horse since Ace High in 2017 to complete the Spring Champion Stakes-Victoria Derby double.
Unlike Ace High, who had a month between runs, subsequent scheduling changes mean El Castello must attempt the double on successive Saturdays.
On top of that, he will jump from the widest barrier in a capacity 16-horse field.
Cup contender Onesmoothoperator will undergo a veterinary examination on Saturday morning before a decision is made as to whether he will be allowed to compete in Tuesday's race.
The Geelong Cup winner failed a vet check on Friday due to a cut on his heel, and blew in the betting from second-favourite to equal third favourite at around $9.
Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo remains favourite at around $5 ahead of English raider Vauban at $6.50.
