David Thiselton

BRETT CRAWFORD, whose single Grade 1 win last season ended a sequence of seven multiple Grade 1-winning seasons, has a full card of runners on Cape Town Met day including a trio of runners in both the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m and the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

Crawford said Run Fox Run was undoubtedly his stable elect in the Cape Flying.

He said about the Australian-bred Foxwedge filly who has won seven of her ten career starts, “She is in great form and I am expecting a good run.” Last year she finished a 1,20 length fourth having won the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes over the same 1000m course and distance in the build-up. This year she comes in off a one length second to Celtic Sea in the Southern Cross. She received 1kg from the latter so is going to have a tough task reversing form in this weight for age event. Celtic Sea is the favourite with Track & Ball at 2.65/1 while Run Fox Run is at 13/2 and has regular pilot Anton Marcus up from draw three out of 14.

Crawford also runs Bold Respect and Pacific Trader and said, “These two older horses need to come back to their best form. I have put a pair of blinkers on Pacific Trader and hope that helps. Bold Respect finished second in this race last year so obviously has the ability. It will just depend on his well-being on the day. They have both had good preps.”

Crawford runs Pretty Young Thing, Sing Out Loud and Kelpie in the Majorca.

He said, “They are all doing well and are all capable although Pretty Young Thing has a tough draw to overcome. Clouds Unfold and Captain’s Ransom are the horses to beat but after that it is an open race and all three have the potential to run into the money.”

Crawford’s day begins in the third race over 1600m with Global View colt Grand Escape, who was doing his best work late when green on debut and finishing a 0,90 length third.

He said, “He obviously has a poor draw but is fit and well.”

To date the form of his debut has worked out quite well with two horses he beat by about three lengths placing in the first three in their respective next starts.”

In the fourth race over 1400m Grade 2 Charity Mile winner Hudoo Magic is prominent in the betting.

Crawford said, “He is in good form and this being a Pinnacle he is pretty well weighted. He always appreciates a long straight like this one.”

King Of Gems is a fascinating runner as he is a former Grade 2 Concorde Cup winner over 1600m. He had to be given a nine-month break for a wind operation this year and he has had three runs since.

Crawford said, “His last run was better and I hope he can continue to improve. He finished four lengths behind Kasimir in that start over 1200m and we know he has the ability so if he feels right on the day, he has a definite outside chance.”

Hudoo Magic jumps from a tough draw of nine under Marcus and King Of Gems has draw five under Warren Kennedy.

In the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m Crawford runs the progressive Captain Al colt Kaptein who carries only 54kg and jumps from draw seven under Greg Cheyne.

He said, “He is doing well and comes off a very good run (a Progress Plate over this trip where he ran above his 83 rating). This will be good test for him and I am expecting him to run a competitive race and be in the first four I hope.”

Crawford runs Grade 1 Cape Derby third-placed Super Silvano in the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m and he said, “He is in good form. There is a question mark whether he gets the trip but if he does, he will be competitive.”

Oddly enough Super Silvano, who is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano, is a full-brother to stablemate Bold Respect, a Grade 1-winning sprinter. However, their mother Respectable Lady won over 1800m and their third dam was the top class Respectable, who finished third in the July and won three Grade 2 staying races.

Crawford runs Social Butterfly, Qaaraat and Variety Breeze in the eleventh over 1000m.

He said, “Social Butterfly is in great form. She has a big weight but has been doing very well at home. Qaaraat’s form has been very good since the blinkers were put on and she must be respected as an each-way chance. Variety Breeze has not run over 1000m for a while and I think this is her best trip so she should improve on her current form.”

In the last over 1200m Crawford runs Real Gone Kid, who made it two wins in five starts last time out over this trip.

He said, “There is a bit of a weight turnaround with Tarantino but he has been working well and I see no reason why he can’t run another good race.”

This Australian-bred colt is well related being by top sire Schnitzel out of the former Justin Snaith-trained dual Grade 1 winner In The Fast Lane.