Crescent King remains untested in Saturday grade, but a significant win at Warwick Farm on Monday may have propelled him towards Stakes company.
The three-year-old son of Written Tycoon secured his second win from as many starts this campaign, overpowering the front-running Fovea in the $65,000 Jacquinot First Crop 2YOs BM68 Handicap over 1100 metres.
This was precisely the performance trainer Peter Snowden was hoping for to confirm the colt’s suitability for the $200,000 Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 24.
“He’s won both starts his time in, a Super Maiden last start at Canterbury – that was a big win – and that was a good effort today with 60 kilos chasing a red-hot speed like that,” Snowden stated.
“He’s done a great job. He’s a talented horse. I think he’s above Wednesday grade and I think there’s a nice race coming up for him.
“Maybe the Brian Crowley. It’s something I’ve had my eye on for a while for him and after watching today, I don’t think he’ll be out of place in a race like that.”
Crescent King, the $2.25 favourite, was approximately 10 lengths behind Fovea in the mid-stages and still six lengths adrift of the $3.20 second elect at the 300-metre mark. However, he finished strongly under jockey Zac Lloyd’s encouragement to achieve a comfortable 2-1/2-length victory. Moscow Maid ($21) finished a further 1-1/4 lengths back in third.
Lloyd, who has partnered Crescent King in both his victories this campaign, believes a step up in class is justified.
“I thought today he’d be questionable at the 1100, because I think he’s going to be better over the six, seven furlongs, and now that he’s learning to relax it’s going to help him,” Lloyd commented.
“He’s very bomb proof, this boy. He does everything right and will step up in some better races, I think.”
Considering Crescent King’s impressive performance, punters might find value in checking out the latest Australian betting sites for the upcoming Brian Crowley Stakes.