Hallowed Crown’s perfect first up record will be put to the test when he lines up in a star studded Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Hallowed Crown will put his perfect first up record to the test in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Last year’s Group 1 Golden Rose winner scored at his race debut on the Kensington track at Randwick in March 2014 and then resumed in the Spring to win first up in the Group 3 $125,000 MTA NSW Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill in August.
But co-trainer James Cummings is mindful of the quality opposition Hallowed Crown will be facing on the weekend as he steps out for the first time in the Autumn Carnival.
“The first-up horses have big assignments down the track, that has to be kept in mind, but every now and then the class horses resuming can get the job done,” Cummings told Racing Network.
“There are four Group 1 winners resuming in this race, they are Group 1 winners for a reason.”
As well as Hallowed Crown resuming, Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win, Victoria Derby winner Preferment and Spring Champion Stakes victor Hampton Court are all kicking off their Autumn Carnival campaigns.
Cummings has given Hallowed Crown one barrier trial when third to Shooting To Win over 1000m at Randwick on February and Cummings said that the Street Sense colt is at a similar stage as he was prior to his first up win in the Run To The Rose.
“I think there are a lot of similarities to his fresh run in the spring,” Cummings said.
“There was a word of doubt that he might be underdone for a strong 1200m race on a heavy track but he relished the conditions.
“He is an athletic horse and is coming to hand quite nicely.”
The John O’Shea trained Sweynesse is also unbeaten from his two first-up attempts but is yet to win at Group 1 level.
Sweynesse was a winner at his first four starts before running third to Hampton Court in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 11 before finishing eighth to Adelaide in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
The Paul Messara trained Scissor Kick has the fitness edge in the Hobartville Stakes after scoring a first up win over Delectation in the Group 3 $150,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 7.
Shooting To Win at $4.60 heads a congested market order for the Hobartville Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Scissor Kick at $5.50, Hallowed Crown and Panzer Division at $6, and Sweynesse and Delectation at $8.
