Fitness edge for Witness at Caulfield
The Quezette Stakes at Caulfield has over the years been a spring starting point for high class three-year-old fillies.
Previous winners of the 1100m-race include Alinghi, Bel Mer, Petits Filous, and last year, I Am A Star.
Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb hopes race fitness will give Crown Witness an advantage in Saturday’s Group Three sprint in which her rivals include Catchy, Tulip, Seannie and Ploverset.
Crown Witness is unbeaten in two starts, winning on debut at Sandown last month before defeating Madeenaty at Flemington on August 5.
Webb says he can’t fault the filly following her gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday.
“My only query is the depth of the race,” Webb said.
“It’s a really good race and it will probably depend on just how forward some of those are in condition and if they’re vulnerable in fitness.
“A few of them, you would think, wouldn’t be wound right up at this stage with a long spring in front of them.”
Crown Witness is rated a $9 chance with Catchy the well-backed $2.50 favourite.
How far Crown Witness goes beyond Saturday depends on her performance, although Webb said victory could simplify matters.
“Winning might be the easiest way to pull up and say that will do you for a little while,” he said.
“I nearly had her ready in the autumn, but backed off, and nearly ran her a couple of other times but little things went wrong, so she has been in the system for a while.
“If she went to the paddock, or the water walker, for a while it wouldn’t worry me.”
While both her wins have been at 1000m, Webb isn’t concerned by the slight distance rise, suggesting Crown Witness will get to 1400m and possibly 1600m later.
“She’s clean-winded and while she looks like she’s speedy, which she is, I think eventually she’ll get a little bit further,” he said.