Formline means Godolphin colt a player in the Brian Crowley task

Clinton Payne - Friday October 20

Godolphin trainer James Cummings believes using the early favourite for the Coolmore Stud Stakes as a guide, Malahat shouldn't be discounted as a contender in Saturday's $150,000 Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

James Cummings holds a strong hand in the Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Cummings will saddle up two sons of Exceed And Excel in the Listed set weights and penalties event, Malahat will be joined by Piracy.

Malahat hasn't raced for five weeks since being beaten as favourite in the Heritage Stakes by his stablemate and early favourite for the Coolmore Stud Stakes Viridine.

Cummings acknowledged Malahat has been set for this race, and performed well in a recent trial, while Viridine is already at Godolphin's Flemington stables being prepared for his Group I date on November 4.

"We've had this race in mind for him for a while," Cummings said.

"He finished fourth to Viridine last start when he led. There wasn't a lot between them and we have a very good opinion of Viridine and he's trialled nicely since that run."

Piracy goes into Saturday's content with a vastly different profile having been working through the grades on the provincial and metropolitan midweek circuit before being far from disgraced last time out when beaten 1-1/4 lengths against the older horses in a Saturday benchmark 80 handicap.

"He's worked his way through the grades and shown that he's improving with every run," Cummings said.

"He was solid at Randwick last start when he finished fourth and although he goes up in class he can be competitive if he gets some cover."

On Saturday Malahat is a $6 chance ahead of Piracy in betting markets at $7.

Meanwhile, the stable will also saddle up a pair of runners in the Group III Nivison (1200m).

Five-year-old mares Kinshachi and Maternal both resume from spells in the set weights and penalties contest.

"This looks to be a strong race but Kinshachi showed good form in Queensland during her last prep," he said.

"She might need a run or two to reach her peak but the rain arriving in Sydney on Friday hasn't hurt her chances.

"Maternal has similar form lines to Kinshachi who she beat narrowly in the Gai Waterhouse at Ipswich.

"Her two barrier trials have been satisfactory, she's been a very consistent filly who can figure here in a very good field."

Early betting on the race indicates Kinshachi is the number one seed for the stable at $10 ahead of Maternal at $15.

Advertisment
More Reading...
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.