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.

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