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Randwick Guineas day has been a happy hunting ground for Anthony Cummings who will saddle up a host of youngsters in the two Golden Slipper lead-ups.
Memories of the late Hotel Grand will be revived for trainer Anthony Cummings if debutant Hard Marker can win Saturday's Group Three Skyline Stakes.
Cummings took out the inaugural Randwick Guineas with Hotel Grand on the corresponding program six years ago and will saddle up Strike The Stars in the Group One this time around.
Four races earlier, Fastnet Rock youngster Hard Marker will be one of three runners for Cummings in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
The two-year-old is closely related to Hotel Grand, who died at Queensland's Racetree Stud last month as a result of colic.
"He is out of a sister to Hotel Grand and Outback Prince and he's a half-brother to Home On A Wing," Cummings said of Hard Marker.
"Typically the family takes time but this guy, courtesy of Fastnet Rock, has got to the races a bit earlier than the others.
"There's little doubt he will be better at three but he's there right now and he's coping with the pressure and working nicely so he's entitled to his chance."
Stablemates Fiveandahalfstar, a son of Hotel Grand, and Encosta De Lago youngster Diamond Costa will also tackle the Skyline.
Cummings has a trio of entries in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) for the fillies and while Agueda and Calamba will run, She's A Fox is also first emergency for the two-year-old maiden at Canterbury on Friday night and will tackle that if she gains a start.
The speedy Agueda is rated Cummings' best hope at $9.50.
She has raced four times and finished runner-up to two of the top Golden Slipper fancies in Raceway and Driefontein.
However, she will have to contend with barrier 10 and her first attempt beyond 1100 metres on Saturday.
"She would probably be one of the fastest gate-speed horses in Sydney right now," Cummings said.
"That's going to give her a fairly easy trail across but, equally, she's got to run 1200 this time and that's going to be the test for her."
