Crescent King is yet to be tested in Saturday grade, but he might have earned himself a shot at Stakes company with a big win at Warwick Farm on Monday.
The three-year-old son of Written Tycoon made it two wins from as many starts this time in when he wore down tearaway leader Fovea in the $65,000 Jacquinot First Crop 2YOs BM68 Handicap (1100m).
It was just the type of performance Peter Snowden wanted to see to convince him the colt was worthy of a shot at 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 said.
“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 ($2.25fav) spotted Fovea around 10 lengths in the middle stages, was still six lengths of the $3.20 second elect at the 300m but finished powerfully under the urgings of Zac Lloyd to score a soft 2-1/2-length win with Moscow Maid ($21) a further 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Lloyd has ridden Crescent King to both wins this time in and said a step up in grade was warranted.
“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 said.
“He’s very bomb proof, this boy. He does everything right and will step up in some better races, I think.”
