A Grant and Alana Williams-trained galloper emerged as the one to beat in next month's Kalgoorlie Cup after a resounding win on Saturday.
FALCON CREST
Going the early crow is always fraught with danger but it appears we have found the Kalgoorlie Cup winner. Falcon Crest was resuming after an 111-day break after placings in the Geraldton and Albany Cups in autumn and some figured on the son of Musket needing the run over an unsuitable 1400 metres, yet he ran dominant closing sectionals to post a last-to-first victory. Trainer Grant Williams and rider William Pike were strangely coy after the win, each avoiding even mentioning the big one in the Goldfields in late September, instead throwing about phrases like "We'll let the horse tell us," and "take him on each run." For me, Falcon Crest can only get better as the distances increase and go one better than he did at Kalgoorlie last season when running second in the Cup. Expect him to collect some feature race wins along the way.
Career record (22:6-4-3)
Race to look for – Anything from here on in
LOCKROY
This Chris Gangemi-trained gelding appears to have turned a corner with a stakes placing two starts ago and didn't have much go his way on Saturday. A market drifter after the track failed to dry out beyond a soft (6), Lockroy was always going to be up against it in conditions he hasn't been handling since arriving in WA from the eastern states last season. So to finish an unlucky fourth, beaten just over two lengths, says plenty for his determination. Riding for luck along the inside after being shuffled back to midfield as the race unfolded, Lockroy only saw daylight over the final 100 metres and was unable to quicken effectively in the run to the line. Back onto a good surface in a similar race he will get a light weight again and prove hard to hold out with any luck in running.
Career record (27:3-4-5)
Race to look for – Benchmark 72+ 1200m
SAVERIO
It was probably only the wide barrier and decision to go back at the start that cost Saverio an overdue win on Saturday. Coming off a strong recent trial when he won by a big margin in decent time, Saverio's jockey Matthieu Autier had little option than to snag back in search of some cover. The race didn't pan out right after that, with the four of the first five home firmly entrenched in the leading quartet as runners found their spots. Despite the unsuitable assignment Saverio caught the eye working home strongly wider out and recorded the fastest final 600 metres in the process. As a seven-year-old gelding he is not getting any younger but as a son of Savabeel he should handle races over a little further which gives connections plenty of options in the coming weeks. Their patience can be rewarded soon.
Career record (8:0-3-2)
Race to look for – Maiden 1400m
