The Gai Waterhouse-trained Crossbow achieved a racing rarity when discarding his maiden status for the second time in the Upstream ‘Print Less’ Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Crossbow was the winner of the Gosford ‘no race’ on Takeover Target stakes day and he proved it was no fluke by stepping up to Saturday company and recording an easy victory.

The win was the first Saturday city winner apprentice Blake Spriggs has ridden for his boss Gai Waterhouse who described the young rider as “a champ”.

Waterhouse said Crossbow would be back at Rosehill in a fortnight to contests his next start in the The Rosebud.

“He’s a very special horse this horse,” Waterhouse said. “I adored him when I brought him at the Magic Millions.

“I thought he was the nicest colt in the sale.

“He’ll run in the Rosebud and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

The winner Crossbow (5) – Showed good early speed and drove through to lead, hold the rails. In the straight he drifted away from the fence but when challenged inside the final 300 metres he changed gear and cleared out for an easy win.
The runner-up Rampant (7) – Began well but was posted three wide outside the leaders. They attempted to drift back to obtain cover but he started to over race. After being three wide without cover the entire way he continued to hold his ground in the straight and did a good job to finish second.
The third placegetter Ryley’s Star (3) – Settled on the back of the leader and eventual winner. Got a lovely run in transit and slid up along the rails to challenge at the top of the straight before dying on his run over the final 100 metres.
The favourite Crossbow – Started at $2.35 after opening at $1.70 and did the right thing by his supporters.
The money trail Agister opened at $3 and drifted out to $4 before the support came and he firmed late back into $3.80. Tom’s Choice had good backing and firmed from $9.50 to $6.50. Ryley’s Star also firmed from $17 into $14. The on-course market closed at 115 percent.

Blackbooker Crossbow – He was well served in this with only 52kg after the claim but he did it in a manner suggesting he goes better than the norm. Wait till he gets out to 1400 metres plus and you’ll see the best of him

Had excuses Rampant – Wouldn’t have beaten the winner but had no luck and should have finished closer. A win isn’t too far away.

On Notice Tom’s Choice – Did no work in the run but produced a meek effort at best in the straight. We’ll give him benefit of the doubt because he was first-up but needs to lift next time.

What they said
“It’s great to finally get a Saturday win for Mrs Waterhouse and hope there is a lot more to come. He’s a nice horse and had all the favours today and got a steady lead but he gets to the front, waits for them and is just playing with them. He shows that turn of foot and just puts them away,” said Blake Spriggs, rider of Croosbow (1st).

“No Luck, but he is going to be a nice horse,” said Josh Parr, rider of Rampart (2nd).

“Went well, nice horse and going to be better next time in,” said Peter Robl, rider of Ryley’s Star (3rd).

“Ran well, barrier cost him a place,” said Brenton Avdulla, rider of Big Sunday (4th).

 “He had too much weight but with the run he had he was a fraction disapppointing, he give a little bit of ground the last 100m” said Corey Brown, rider of Agister (5th).

 “He was unsuited by the slow pace,” said Nash Rawiller, rider of Tom’s Choice (6th).

Rosehill - Saturday, 17 July 2010
Track:Dead
Race 1 Upstream Print Less Hcp 1100m
Time: 1:05.14. (0:34.34 (600m)
Starters: 7
Handicap Open
Prizemoney: $70,000 - 1st: $42,000 2nd: $13,300 3rd: $6,700.

1 Crossbow Ms G Waterhouse B Spriggs $2.38 52.0
2g Redoute's Choice x Rainbow Bubbles (USA))
Lot 2 2009 MM Conrad Jupiters Yearling Sale $300,000

2 3.5 Rampart Peter Snowden J Parr $9 54.5
2c Commands x Seika
Not Offered

3 SHH Ryley's Star G A Ryan P Robl $13 55.5
2g Refuse To Bend (IRE) x Flicka's Star
Lot 208 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $15,000

4 Big Sunday A J Cummings B Avdulla $13 53.0

5 Agister A J Denham C W Brown $3.75 58.5

6 Tom's Choice C J Waller N Rawiller $6.50 56.5

7 Slick Shoes David Payne B Shinn $51 54.0

racenet news