Peter Snowden is confident that Crescent King has the potential to compete at stakes race level this spring, following a significant step forward with a hard-fought maiden victory at Canterbury.
Despite a narrow short-neck margin over Better By Far, Snowden indicated that the three-year-old has demonstrated above-average ability during training and will continue to refine his skills.
“Tradesman-like performance today, but I like him,” Snowden remarked. “He’s always shown potential. He’s been a bit soft, he went ‘shinny’ (shine sore) a couple of times but he’s sound now. He’s in at the right time now to measure up because there are some good races coming up quickly.”
Crescent King ($2.70 fav), guided by jockey Zac Lloyd in Wednesday’s Hyland Race Colours Plate (1100m), managed to wear down the leader Better By Far ($4.60) in the final strides. Vatican ($7) finished a distant third, three lengths behind.
Snowden has not yet finalised a racing program for the winner but is eager to test him in black-type company, with the Brian Crowley Stakes (1100m) being a potential target.
“He’s still very raw, but he’s got the ability to get there,” he stated. “I just wanted to see what he did today first. But going to these Listed races now, it’s a pretty tall ask. You’ve got to make sure you’ve got the right weapon, but I think he might be okay.”
Meanwhile, the Chris Waller stable also harbours stakes race ambitions for the filly Saffron Veil ($1.90 fav). She secured victory by a half-length over stablemate Affari ($10) in the Schweppes Handicap (1200m), bouncing back after two consecutive second-place finishes.
Charlie Duckworth, assistant trainer for Waller, explained that while the Flight Stakes (1600m) was initially considered for Saffron Veil, it would have come too soon. However, the Thousand Guineas remains a possibility.
“She did enter Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas thoughts when she first stepped out at the races, so you’ve got to still keep the Thousand Guineas in mind. The Flight will obviously come around too quick but that’s what we’re thinking,” Duckworth advised.
Consider placing a bet on Crescent King’s next start at one of the leading Australian betting sites.