Enigmatic galloper Crosshaven (Smart Missile) will try to do something he hasn’t done in close to four years on Saturday as he chases back-to-back wins at Flemington.
The Ben, JD and Will Hayes-trained galloper last posted successive wins as a spring three-year-old in 2020, when he won the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) and the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) in a campaign that saw him finish fourth in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and then take out the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on Victoria Derby Day.
Crosshaven broke a run of outs when he saluted at his most recent start at Flemington and the earner of more than $1 million will be out to repeat the dose in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m).
“If he turns up again, he’s more than capable of winning and he’s giving every sign at home that he’s feeling great,” said JD Hayes.
“He’s got lovely fitness under his belt, so hopefully he’s able to reproduce.”
It might have been a moment of serendipity when the Hayes brothers discovered Crosshaven’s affection for Flemington’s straight course, after he flew home to run second in the Gr.3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) last spring in what was meant to be a fitness-building first-up outing.
“He has shown a liking to the straight, he’s run some really credible races there and that seems to be where he puts his most consistent performances down, so we’re glad that it’s down the straight at Flemington on the weekend,” Hayes said.
Crosshaven is at $21 with Sportsbet for the seventh race at Flemington.
Lindsay Park will also saddle up last-start winner Le Ferrari in the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final, although Hayes conceded that it won’t be easy for him from barrier 10.
“It’s an awkward draw but he’s a horse in form,” he said.
“He’ll give his all but he’s finding a very stiff race here, so we need a few things to go our way, but if you’re a Le Ferrari fan, he’s maintained from last run.”
