Listed winner set for non-tab race

Listed winner Executed is set to step out in the sand at Gladstone this Saturday as the Krystle Johnston-trained 6-year-old tops the nominations for the Trist Collins Open Plate over 1194 meters. Executed will surprisingly gain a huge weight relief, however in a much easier race after carrying 66 kg in an open handicap at Rockhampton a fortnight ago.

Dropping from a 94 to a 92 handicap rating, Executed has been assigned just 60.5 kg in the set weights plate after a near 5-length defeat at the hands of French Hussler and Embrace The Pain last start.

The 16-time winner has been relatively lightly raced in more recent times, in fact having just the 3 starts for 2 wins in 2017, defeated by one-time Doomben 10,000 runner Upstart Pride back in January last year. It is expected Executed will remain in North Queensland throughout carnival time, possibly being aimed towards Townsville’s Cleveland Bay which he won in 2016.

Donning the very recognisable white and blue colours of the Craiglea Stud, Krystle Johnston’s Executed has won in excess of half a million in prize money, the extremely consistent gelding placing in 28 of his 40 career starts and earning a deserved title of a real money spinner.

While Executed is expected to bounce back into form in Gladstone, 57-start veteran Craiglea Deken will step out in Thursday’s Townsville meet while the promising Craiglea Arion has been nominated for both Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.