Tally and Soothing in spring finale at Sandown

A suitable track and a drop back in distance are expected to work in favour of Tally when he runs in Saturday’s G3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown

Tally (Craig Williams), along with his stablemate Soothing (Kerrin McEvoy), will be looking to add another feature race to an impressive Godolphin collection at what is the final major meeting of the Melbourne spring.

The Australian stable won four Stakes races during Melbourne Cup week at Flemington and the English-trained Cross Counter pulled off the crowning achievement of the season, winning the G1 Melbourne Cup.

While he hasn’t approached that sort of peak, Tally is running honestly without winning and the Eclipse offers him a new milestone in what has been an honourable career with a first-two finish taking his racetrack earnings beyond A$1 million.

Trainer James Cummings is satisfied the son of Street Cry can figure in the finish.

“I thought he was building up to a big performance in the Lexus at Flemington last start,” Cummings said.

“He raced like a 2000m horse so he should be suited by dropping back in distance and in class.”

“The risk is they’ll be a bit sharp for him at the 1800m, but he should be running on strongly.”

Cummings is confident Soothing has the ability to graduate to Stakes class in the Doveton Stakes.

After winning the first two starts of her current preparation, Soothing has the opportunity to use her abundant speed to good effect at Sandown.

“She’s a mare with a powerful sprint and although she’s tackling some stiff opposition here I’m happy that she can run well,” Cummings said.

“I’d like to see her show that 1000m speed that she possesses.

“She’s enjoyed a having a gap between runs and has freshened up nicely for this.”