Formline means Godolphin colt a player in the Brian Crowley task

Godolphin trainer James Cummings believes using the early favourite for the Coolmore Stud Stakes as a guide, Malahat shouldn't be discounted as a contender in Saturday's $150,000 Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Cummings will saddle up two sons of Exceed And Excel in the Listed set weights and penalties event, Malahat will be joined by Piracy.

Malahat hasn't raced for five weeks since being beaten as favourite in the Heritage Stakes by his stablemate and early favourite for the Coolmore Stud Stakes Viridine.

Cummings acknowledged Malahat has been set for this race, and performed well in a recent trial, while Viridine is already at Godolphin's Flemington stables being prepared for his Group I date on November 4.

"We've had this race in mind for him for a while," Cummings said.

"He finished fourth to Viridine last start when he led. There wasn't a lot between them and we have a very good opinion of Viridine and he's trialled nicely since that run."

Piracy goes into Saturday's content with a vastly different profile having been working through the grades on the provincial and metropolitan midweek circuit before being far from disgraced last time out when beaten 1-1/4 lengths against the older horses in a Saturday benchmark 80 handicap.

"He's worked his way through the grades and shown that he's improving with every run," Cummings said.

"He was solid at Randwick last start when he finished fourth and although he goes up in class he can be competitive if he gets some cover."