TOP trainer David Crosswell is no stranger to winning feature races so it should come as no surprise that he believes he can win the upcoming Tasmanian Oaks and Derby.
Chika Scott is his Derby prospect and She’s All Class his top Oaks chance and both were impressive winners in Hobart last Thursday night.
Chika Scott scored an emphatic win in the Stuart Eaton Grade Five over 461 metres
The son of Surf Lorian began fairly from box seven but when he slipped into overdrive turning for home he bounded clear and went on to defeat Hold On Coupe by almost four lengths with Bligh Street hanging on for third a length away.
Chicka Scott won the Country Derby in Devonport defeating Cointreau Cap that has since gone on to be very competitive in invitation class.
“Chicka Scott is a very strong dog and now that he is starting to come to terms with what racing is all about he is developing into a very good chaser,” Crosswell said.
Chicka Scott clocked 26.10 last Thursday night (hand timed) at what was only his second outing on the Hobart track.
The dog began his career in Victoria and ran three seconds at Bendigo before heading north to race at Ipswich where he had three starts for a win and one minor placings in December last year.
He notched his first Tasmanian win in Launceston defeating the highly promising Hindsight.
“The dog has improved with racing and I have no doubt that he is capable of winning a lot of races because he is very strong,” he said.
While Crosswell was happy with the effort of Chicka Scott, he was ecstatic with the performance of She’s All Class to win a grade five over 461 metres.
She’s All Class flew the lids and had the race in her keeping by the time they hit the top turn.
The well bred bitch (Dyna Lachlan-It’s A She) was having only her second start on the Hobart track but she obliterated her previous best time by clocking a sizzling 25.77s which was about a length outside of Bergermeister’s record of 25.71.
“I said very early on that She’s All Class had the potential to be the best I’ve trained and if she keeps on improving she might still get to that level,” Crosswell said.
She’s All Class had a nasty fall at Devonport earlier this year and it had an affect on her ability to ride bumps in races.
But she has regained her confidence and her impeccable box manners have returned, evidenced by her past two outings.
She began like a shot in winning in Launceston three nights before her Hobart assignment.
“Because of a few problems She’s All Class hasn’t had the chance to get really race fit but running and winning in Launceston and Hobart three nights apart has already toughened her up and provided she stays sound the future looks bright for her,” he said.
She’s All Class has won nine of her 14 starts but her record tells us that she either wins or runs nowhere but Crosswell is confident her winning record will be extended in the coming weeks.
“Both will run in heats of the GOTBAT series in Hobart next week and hopefully the finals a week later and then they will go the heats of the derby and oaks four nights later in Launceston,” Crosswell said.