Leading three-year-old Hallowed Crown has continued his impressive racing career in Sydney this afternoon; displaying an exceptional turn of foot in the final straight to take out the featured Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) by a length.
Hallowed Crown posted a second Group 1 victory in this afternoon’s Randwick Guineas. Photo: Steve Hart
Jumping from the gates well, jockey Hugh Bowman immediately took up a position at the fore of the field of six; setting a noticeably quick tempo alongside Shooting To Win away from the barriers and approaching the turn.
Pushing wide rounding onto the final straight, the Street Sense colt allowed Peter and Paul Snowden’s runner and Sweynesse to lock in an early sprint battle before sweeping home down to outside; hitting the line comfortably in the clear of the classy Godolphin colt; Shooting To Win boxing on for third.
Trainer James Cummings was thrilled with Hallowed Crown’s second Group 1 victory in the Randwick Guineas, revealing the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens in a fortnight is likely to figure as his next major target.
“I think he’s announced the doubters there – does this horse run a mile? He’s even better over a mile,” Cummings said.
“Bart said to me the last two days just get off the fence and I said Bart he’s drawn 1 in a field of 6 and he said “six runners, easy!”
“This horse was ranging up on the outside of Shooting To Win, the sparks are beginning to fly and he just loves it, he’s always going to find late.
“The horse knows nothing better than just to attack the line and he did that, he savaged it, he won again and he’s the best three-year-old in the country.
“He’s going to go to the George Ryder I’d say off the back of that, and why wouldn’t we take on the older horses on route to the Doncaster.”
Bowman delivered a typically polished performance aboard Hallowed Crown in the 2015 Randwick Guineas, but revealed he was worried he was not in the right position upon arriving at the final straight.
“The thing about this colt is he’s a winner, and his record says that,” Bowman said after dismounting.
“Actually at the 600m I was worried, when Blake (Shinn, Shooting To Win) slipped around the corner and he was sort of three in front when we topped the rise.
“When I could see Blake was still travelling really well at the 250 I thought there’s not much left in that tank and my horse has got a bit under the bonnet.”
“Our horse has come out on top today and I’m sure there’s going to be great battles in the future but I think our colt certainly deserves the number 1 pin at this stage.”
In taking out the 2015 Randwick Guineas, Hallowed Crown has now posted an impressive record of six wins from only seven competitive starts.
