Brett Crawford is hoping Undercover Agent can run as well as he did in last year’s Sun Met although he rates his best runners on the day as Run Fox Run in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship and Front And Centre in the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes.

Five-year-old Captain Al entire Undercover Agent features in the card changes for the day as he will be wearing a tongue tie.

Crawford said, “He is all good and seems to have been working better with the tongue tie on. It is a tough task but we have got to try and if he runs the same sort of race as last year we will be very happy.”

Stable jockey Corné Orffer rode him to a courageous 2,20 length fourth last year from draw 12 out of 13 and this year he is drawn six out of 13.

In the Cape Flying Championship Crawford’s Australian-bred four-year-old Foxwedge filly Run Fox Run attempts to keep her unbeaten record. She has won all five of her career starts from 1000m to 1200m comfortably. Her last two runs, on May 25 last year in the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m and on December 14 in the Grade 2 WSB Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m, both at Kenilworth, were her first two attempts at black type and she won them by five lengths and 2,25 lengths respectively.

It is now a big step up to weight-for-age Grade 1 company against the boys but the manner of those wins, showing fair  cruising speed before turning it on in the last 400m, has impressed the bookmakers who make her the 2,65/1 joint favourite with Kasimir.

Crawford said, “She is in great form and looks well and has been working well. She has had a great prep and we will now see how good she is.”

He also has Pacific Trader and Bold Respect in the Cape Flying and said, “Both will run well, they always do.”

Front And Centre also features in the card changes for the days as she will be wearing blinkers.

Crawford said, “Ï hope she improves with the blinkers. I do think the mile is her better trip, I have no doubt she is more suited to that distance than the 1800m of the Paddock Stakes last time (when beaten 2,75 lengths into fifth by Queen Supreme).”

Front And Centre, who finished a 1,70 length third to Clouds Unfold last year, is drawn seven with Anton  Marcus up.

Crawford expected good runs from all three of his contenders in the Grade 3 City Of Cape Town Politician Stakes over 1800m, Super Silvano, Late At Night and Parterre.   

He said, “They are all doing well and will run good races.”

Count Jack, who runs in the CTS 1600, was the other of his many runners on the day he mentioned.

He said, “He has been working exceptionally well. It is a tough race but on his work at home he has a place chance.”

By David Thiselton