The Godolphin head trainer's powerhouse stable is firing on all cyclinders this autumn and his classy three-year-old has been on a similar upward spiral. 

The difference with Pohutukawa is the results don't quite show it just yet. But Cummings hopes a change of luck can change all of that in Friday's Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m). 

"She is going really well," Cummings said.

"She has been in good form. I have been trying to tell people all prep just how well she is going but she's just had no luck.

"You had to put a red line under the word inconclusive after that run last run in the Group 1.

"She was jogging behind a wall of horses and never got a crack at them."

Cummings speaks of Pohutukawa's fifth placed finish in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at her last start where the filly got caught on the fence as Nakeeta Jane saluted.

It was Pohutukawa's first exposure to the top grade, but Cummings has always been confident the Medaglia D'Oro filly was destined for big things.

A dominant win on Melbourne Cup day in the Listed Jim Beam Black Stakes (1400m) at Flemington helped justify that assessment. 

"She went really well that preparation and I am sure she would have stepped up had a delved a little deeper," Cummings said.

"We wanted her to come back in the autumn and she has continued on an upward spiral."

Pohutukawa is the $2.20 favourite to win the Kembla Grange Classic on Friday, with James McDonald set to ride.

The Godolphin hope will meet a high quality field in the Illawarra Turf Club's $200,000 marquee race for fillies.

VRC Oaks runner-up Greysful Glamour as well as Australian Oaks contenders Scarlet Dream and Sister Sledge are all set to contest the Group 3.

It sets up a mouth-watering contest in what will more than likely be a capacity 16-horse field. 

A vast majority of the runners are on an Australian Oaks trail, which will take place on day two of The Championships.

Pohutukawa is currently an $11 hope for the Oaks, however Cummings admits there is no guarantee his filly will run in the staying feature.

"I am not convinced yet," he said.

"One thing the Kembla Classic will give her the chance to do is progress forward. We have greater aspirations for her but I am not sure if that means the Oaks just yet."

"If she has luck and gets clear on Friday, she is one of the horses to beat."

Meanwhile, Kembla trainers Robert and Luke Price will be forced to sweat on a run for All Tiara. The filly is the second emergency for the Classic and has also been accepted for the TAB Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) should she failed to earn a spot in the field. 

Acceptances across Classic day are some of the highest in recent memory, with 124 runners over the eight race card.

The A J 'Bert' Lillye Memorial Handicap (1200m) and the Stayers Cup (2400m) will provide the undercard to the main event, which will be run at 4.55pm. 

Group 3 Classic day

Track condition: Heavy 8

Rail: True

Entry: Free 

Gates open: 11am

First race: 1.15pm

Last race: 5.35pm

Kembla Grange Classic betting market (TAB fixed odds): Pohutukawa $2, Sister Sledge $5.50, Scarlet Dream $6.50, Romani Girl $13, Lady Of Shalott $14, Greysful Glamour $15, Frankely Awesome, Welsh Legend, Liveinthefastlane, Almerheri House Of Cartier $26, I Like It Easy $41, Zourhea, Amanikan $51, Lolita Gold, All Tiara $151.