Crown Witness to tell all in 2017 Quezette Stakes

Brad Waters - Thursday August 17

Trainer Stuart Webb has a recent guide to Crown Witness's chances of measuring up to stakes company at Caulfield on Saturday.

Crown Witness will attempt to complete a hat trick of wins at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Crown Witness is unbeaten in two city runs but tackles a strong line-up of proven stakes performers in the Group III Quezette Stakes (1100m).

Webb had a similar question to answer with Legless Veuve, who jumped from a maiden win at Sale to win the Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield last spring.

"They are different horses. This filly is up and there but Legless Veuve was lazy and laid back," Webb said.

"I think she's every bit as good as Legless Veuve and she won a Group II last spring."

Crown Witness, who races in the same black and lime green silks carried by Webb's dual Group I winner Yosei, was a comfortable debut winner at Sandown before running down the smart Madeenaty to score down the Flemington straight on August 5.

Webb said the form out of Crown Witness's Flemington win was strong enough to leave him optimistic in the chances of the daughter of Star Witness against the likes of Blue Diamond winner Catchy and former Perth filly Seannie.

"Griffo's (Robbie Griffiths) filly (Chateau Griffo) is a nice filly and she finished behind them and there was a gap to the rest," Webb said.

"It was a good race and they ran a good time and my filly is a nice filly so we were happy with that.

"They ran a second and a half quicker than the boys (earlier in the day)."

Seven of the 11 Quezette Stakes runners will resume from spells in the $150,000 race but Webb hopes the fact Crown Witness is two runs ahead of her main rivals will be significant on Saturday.

"Hopefully she's the fit filly going into Saturday," Webb said.

Ben Melham will ride Crown Witness on Saturday after apprentice Ben Thompson piloted the three-year-old in her first two starts.

Ladbrokes and Sportsbet have Crown Witness as a $9 chance to beat the $2.80 favourite Catchy.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Stakes racing on the horizon for impressive Crown Witness
Trainer Stuart Webb will consider chasing a stakes race with Crown Witness after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with her win at Flemington.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.