While Ole Kirk was the star of the show in Sydney, the Melbourne colts and geldings attempted to put their name forward in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (Gr 3, 1400m), with the prize a clash with the Golden Rose winner in two weeks. Step forward Crosshaven (3 g Smart Missile – Irish Colleen by Shinko King), with the Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained gelding taking his record to four wins from five starts with his victory in the Prelude.
Settling handy under Daniel Stackhouse, Crosshaven put a length and three-quarters on his nearest chasers, Amish Boy (Star Witness) and National Choice (Snitzel).
“It was a really good effort because it looked to me that they really ran along there and he was able to do it at both ends,” Hayes said. “He’s a pretty nice horse, isn’t he?
“He really accelerated well and won well so it’s really exciting looking ahead. He’s four from five now. He’s got a fantastic record and every race he’s won impressively. He’s now a serious contender heading towards the Caulfield Guineas.”
In perhaps a sign of where analysts see the Prelude as opposed to other three-yearold formlines, Crosshaven sits at $11 in the TAB’s Caulfield Guineas market, with Ole Kirk the $6 second favourite behind $5 elect Mo’unga (Savabeel), the unbeaten Dulcify Quality (Listed, 1500m) winner.
Crosshaven also sits behind Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) and Bill Stutt Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) victor Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock) in terms of Victorian-based horses, with both Tagaloa and Glenfiddich Group 1-placed in Sydney during the autumn.
Bred by Daniel Nakhle, who raced his Group 2-winning dam Irish Colleen (Shinko King), Crosshaven was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing for NZ$80,000 at last year’s NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka. However, Nakhle has retained a share with Crosshaven racing in his teal colours. Irish Colleen has produced six foals, five of them named, all winners; Crosshaven is the fifth of them. Among her previous foals is Group 3 winner Killarney (O’Reilly), while Neeson (O’Reilly) is a seven-time winner.
Crosshaven’s family traces back to 1976-1977 Australian Horse of the Year Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad), with the champion mare his fifth dam.
Article courtesy of ANZ Bloodstock
