Mr Crumford can ram home the message that there was no fluke about the impressive way he floored the odds laid on Frank Lloyd Wright four weeks ago by giving Brett Crawford his first Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth on Sunday.
Greg Cheyne’s mount, despite starting at a little-considered 15-1, led two furlongs out and strode clear to win by three lengths with third-placed Machiavelli boosting the form by winning last Saturday.
Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)
Frank Lloyd Wright is the only maiden in the field – only the second time it has reached double figures in this race in the past nine years – and he may prove the biggest danger.
He was considered almost unbeatable by his stable (not to mention most punters too) last time but ran as green as the grass he was galloping on and took an impossibly long time to grasp what his jockey’s increasingly anxious urgings were all about. By the time he finally got the message the race was as good as over.
He will know a lot more about it on Sunday and the 2kg allowance he receives may well enable him to go close.
Joey Ramsden is invariably the trainer to beat – he has won four of the last five runnings – and his trio are all high up in the betting forecast. Twist Of Fate looks a good sort but he will have to be, giving weight all round. Tarsus possibly needs to step up but Arabian Air has won his only start.
Fabian made most to beat Tarsus and represents the combination who won with Dutch Philip 12 months ago. He should make the frame.
Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer were also successful in the Perfect Promise Sprint at this meeting last year – with none other than Magical Wonderland, the race’s first winning favourite for five years – and they can follow up with Nous Voila.
This Judpot filly looked something special when winning on debut, beating well regarded subsequent winner Canukeepitsecret with the third another four lengths away, and is held in high regard.
Durbanville winner Lesedi La Rona heads the market in the TAB sheet betting forecast but her stable companion looks a far more likely winner.
Carioca is the only one to have won more than once and as a result has to give weight all round which could well prove her undoing while Racine is probably better than last time’s run would suggest.
By Michael Clower
