Jim Crowley: “Eqtidaar is ready to rock and roll.”
Crowley calls it at Leicester, Wolverhampton and and Salisbury
2000 Guineas
Mohaather’s lead horse won the other night at Wolverhampton, won very well. Mohaather is in good form. I don’t think he could be any better.
He has had a great preparation – he’s very fit and won his trial. A lot of horses will be having their first run of the year, and our horse couldn’t be better prepared.
SATURDAY RIDES
This used to be a Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum horse that I know. Stuart does very well with horses like this. The horse has been consistent.
He ran well over five furlongs last time but that was a bit sharp and he’s back up to six furlongs here and he would have a chance.
2.15 Leicester – Heer We Go Again
He’s had three starts already finishing second last time, and he has that experience which is always a help in these types of race.
However he could be vulnerable to something unexposed or unraced so you just don’t know.
This is interesting as he gets in this race as a Group 1 winner without a penalty. There are penalties for winners of a Group 3 or Listed race but it doesn’t mention Group 1s in the conditions.
It’s a Listed race in name only as it’s a very good race. Hey Gaman, Larchmont Lad and Donjuan Triumphant are very good horses and have run top class races.
Our horse is in very good order and we think that he’ll stay seven furlongs. We are ready to rock and roll.
I have ridden this horse before. It looks a hot little race so this horse will have to step up on what he’s done so far.
Then I hop in the car and head across to Wolverhampton
Ustath has a good chance. He ran very well last time out and is nicely drawn over the five furlongs. I think he has a very good chance. I am looking forward to riding him.
He’s owned by Dr Jim Hay. I don’t know the horse as I haven’t sat on him before. He has won a couple on the all-weather over the winter then had a break and made his comeback recently.
Hopefully he can run well. Robert Cowell does well with this type of horse.
7.30 Wolverhampton – Crystal King
This looks a lovely horse. He has a beautiful pedigree, and is a half-brother to Crystal Capella, Hillstar and Crystal Ocean. He’s by Frankel and is the sort of horse that Sir Michael Stoute does really well with over time.
If he’s anywhere near as good as his siblings he will be decent. It took a while for him to find his feet but won well last time and will hopefully keep progressing.
He has been working well but he has a bad draw. He likes to go forward and he’s drawn 13 of 13 and it’s on a bend so won’t be easy.
There are a few unraced horses in the field. Hopefully I can get him out and get a nice position, and if I can do that then he has a good chance.
SUNDAY RIDES
2.30 Salisbury – Scottish Blade
I don’t know much about this horse. I haven’t sat on him before, but I ride a lot for Charlie Hills and he will give me the lowdown on the horse on the day.
He ran okay in fifth at Newbury under Andrea Atzeni. Brian is a good trainer and does well with this type of horse. Hopefully he can step up on that encouraging first run.
I am looking forward to riding him. He is a lovely, big, galloping horse. I haven’t ridden him.
He won well at Lingfield last time out and Amanda has had this race in mind for the horse for some time. Hopefully he can run well.
He’s a nice horse by Sir Percy who is doing really well as a sire. He has a staying pedigree so will be interesting to see how he goes first time up.
All of Marcus’s are always very fit and it looks like he’s running over the type of trip that his pedigree points to, so I’m hopeful of a good run.
This is his first run after a wind-op. He was disappointing last year, it just didn’t really happen for him. The year before he won three on the bounce and rattled up through the handicap.
He has been going really nicely at home, and hopefully that wind procedure will help him.
Jim.
