DUAIS' RETURN DELAYED

WEDNESDAY: September 1, 2021: HAWKESBURY star Duais’ return to racing has been delayed.

Trainer Edward Cummings had planned to begin his Queensland Oaks winner’s four-year-old season at Royal Randwick on Saturday, but did not accept with her this morning for the $200,000 Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m).

“Duais had a discharge from both nostrils yesterday afternoon, so we weren’t going to take risks at this stage of her preparation,” Cummings explained this afternoon.

“We’ll make sure she is 100 per cent and wait for another day.

“I haven’t decided which race she will now resume in, but there are plenty of options.”

Hugh Bowman, who won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 5 and was to have partnered the mare again on Saturday, will now ride the Chris Waller-trained Star Of The Seas in the Tramway, which features the resumption of boom import Zaaki.

With Duais an absentee from Saturday’s meeting, Cummings will rely on new stable acquisition Reformist, who makes his debut for the stable in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).

Tim Clark will ride the five-year-old, who began his career in Sydney with Waller before being transferred to Archie Alexander at Ballarat.

Cummings has made a couple of gear changes with the gelding. Visors come off Reformist, and he will wear ear muffs to the barrier, where they will be removed.

. Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has two Randwick acceptors.

Nags To Riches (apprentice Tom Sherry) lines up in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m), and Adelong (Jay Ford) resumes in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) against joint The Everest favorite Nature Strip.