Kote dominates the Brian Crowley Stakes
Kote has led all the way in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick to claim his first Stakes victory for Anthony Cummings.
The progressive three-year-old is building a nice record and was coming off a dominant front running win in a 1200m Benchmark 72 Midway at Randwick on October 8.
A drift in betting saw Kote step out today as $3.90 favourite with online bookmakers after starting the day at $2.40 odds.
2022 Brian Crowley Stakes Replay
Cummings put the drift down to punters finding it hard to work out what advantage it might have been to him last start in that he could handle the wet.
“There were a few people doubting him on top of the ground, not that today is, but it’s certainly drier than what he has been on so far,” said Cummings after today’s win.
“Tommy (Berry) got off him last time and said he would be much better on top of the ground.
“That was fairly comforting for us. I think that’s true, and it will be drier again.”
“I’m pretty happy. I bred the horse and have his mum at home. It’s a great start to get a Stakes horse out of a second or third foal.”
Ridden today by Jason Collett, it was the jockeys fourth win in the race, having also won it in three consecutive years between 2015 and 2017.
Jumping brilliantly from barrier 7, Collett took the son of Choisir straight to the front and still had gas in the tank to hold on strongly for the 1.45-length victory.
Thron Bone ($6.50) came from back in the field down the middle of the straight in an impressive run for second with Dashing Legend ($5) holding on well for third.