The barrier draw has robbed Anthony Cummings of one runner at Warwick Farm on Saturday but it might just deliver an overdue win for another.

Two-year-old filly Vergara won't take her place in the opening event after drawing wide, nor will she run at Canterbury on Friday night for the same reason.

However, stablemate Shadows In The Sun will sport silks on Saturday after landing gate five in the 14-horse field for the feature Australia Day Cup (2400m).

Cummings hopes the good barrier can help deliver the five-year-old his first win since the 2011 South Australian Derby.

"He's probably going to get the run of the race," Cummings said.

Cummings has had little opportunity to test Shadows In The Sun over a true staying trip since his 2500m Derby win more than 18 months ago.

The gelding's only other run over a similar distance was in that year's Queensland Derby in which he was unplaced.

He subsequently spent almost a year on the sidelines through injury and in seven runs since the longest distance he has tackled was the 2000m of the Tatts Club Cup last start.

Shadows In The Sun settled worse than midfield in that race and despite striking some roadblocks in the straight he closed late for fourth to Moriarty.

"He had a couple of runs in Brisbane after (the SA Derby) but certainly he's getting back to his right form and it was a very good run last time," Cummings said.

"The step up to the mile-and-a-half will be in his favour.

"I'm pretty pleased with him. He's had a good couple of weeks since his last run and he was pretty unlucky there."

Cummings won the Australia Day Cup four years ago with Zavite, who then enjoyed a successful two-start campaign in Tasmania where he was second in the Hobart Cup before winning the Launceston equivalent.

The Randwick trainer hasn't ruled out the possibility of Shadows In The Sun following that path.

"There's a chance of that. We've done that successfully with Zavite in previous years," he said.

"He's an older horse now and ideally we'll just poke along and extend his preparation right through until winter if I can.

"It will all be subject to his form."