Lindsay Park trainer Ben and Jd Hayes are hoping Crosshaven can recapture his three-year-old form when he runs at Flemington on Saturday.
Crosshaven lines up in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) looking to break a run of outs that stretches back to the 2020 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
On that occasion, Crosshaven defeated stablemate Aysar in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), but he has been unable to trouble the scorer in seven runs since.
He has however notched two placings, one coming in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in February and two starts ago when second in the Group 3 Chatam Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on November 6 when just touched out by Age Of Chivalry.
Crosshaven has since finished under 3-½ lengths from Sinawann in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on November 27.
“He was nearly a winner over Cup week. We thought he was going to give a good shout, but he just fell short,” JD Hayes told RSN.
“But I think he’s coming into form and is in for a good summer period.
“In the early months of January and February, if he can translate his trackwork into race day, he might be able to win a couple.”
A four-year-old son of Smart Missile, Crosshaven has been lightly raced and will be lining-up for his 15th start on Saturday.
He has registered five wins with two minor placings and almost $650,000 in prize money.
Hayes expects Crosshaven to continue his consistent form after performing well in a jump-out at Flemington last week.
“He trialled really well last Friday, and we think he’s in a good spot,” Hayes said.
“If the Crosshaven we knew from his three-year-old days turns up, he’ll be hard to beat.”
