He may not have landed the big prizes on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day but trainer Brett Crawford did have a successful two-day festival last week, winning Listed Ardmore Jamaica Stakes on Friday along with saddling a double on the Saturday – which included the impressive winning reappearance of leading Cape Flying Championship contender Real Gone Kid.
Crawford’s winning streak looks set to continue at the next Kenilworth meeting on Monday 17 January, as he sends a strong team of runners, which look likely to land him a treble on the eight-race card.
Sage King should get the ball rolling for the yard and open his account in Race 4. He has finished back-to-back seconds since returning from a rest, during which he was gelded, and jockey Anton Marcus needed only negotiate a tricky No 11 draw to get the son of Dynasty to shed his maiden tag.
Cape Derby hopeful Global Ally will look to strengthen his claims ahead of a possible tilt at that 2000m Grade 1 on Met day when he lines up in Race 5 over 1800m. This Global View colt was a workmanlike winner of his last start over 1700m and the extra 100m is likely to bring about further improvement.
Stable jockey Louis Mxothwa is replaced by Greg Cheyne but does retain the ride on stablemate and fellow last-start winner Kissing Point in Race 6 over 1000m.
This half-sister to the stable’s Guineas winner Kilindini is unbeaten over the course and distance. She relished the return to this trip – after contesting feature race over 1100m and 1200m at her last two starts – when winning last time and a big weight following a four-point penalty is unlikely to prevent her from following up.
Preview by Clive Robinson
