The Group 1 $2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 is the likely main spring aim for Crosshaven following their big win from out wide in the Listed $140,000 Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington.
Bartley ran second in the 2020 Exford Plate for Team Snowden. Photo: Taron Clarke.
An early feature on the Makybe Diva Stakes Day card, the Exford Plate saw the undefeated Immortal Love for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr jump favourite but eventually cross last as the Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes-trained Crosshaven scored an upset.
Taking his record up to three wins from four starts with a stylish second-up performance, the Smart Missile gelding showed nice improvement off his sixth a fortnight back in the Group 3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 29 behind Immortal Love.
Ridden to his first Black-Type victory by Daniel Stackhouse, Crosshaven crossed over from his wide gate in the Exford Plate to sit up on the speed travelling second on the outside of front-runner Bartley.
Peter & Paul Snowden’s promising Written Tycoon colt Bartley, backing-up off a 2.3 length 1300m win at Warwick Farm from September 2, led into the turn and gave a kick on the inside down the straight.
Crosshaven kept finding however as the pair went stride-for-stride over the closing stages before the eventual winner moved up, took the lead and drew clear in a terrific performance.
In third rounding out the Exford Plate trifecta in an excellent first-up run was the previously unbeaten Cherry Tortoni.
Patrick Pyane’s boom Night Of Thunder gelding was a two-time winner at the track last season including carrying 61kg to victory over the mile in Black-Type company back in July and, from third last in the run, did his best work late fresh in the Exford.
Crosshaven is likely to run next-up in the Group 3 $250,000 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 26 before heading into the Group 1 over a mile.
Long John (2013) for Peter Snowden was the last three-year-old to complete the Exford Plate – Caulfield Guineas double.
All-in Caulfield Guineas 2020 odds at Ladbrokes.com.au – available in full here – have firmed in from $34 into $17 on Crosshaven, while Exford Plate disappointment Immortal Love has drifted out from $15 to $26.
2020 Exford Plate Results
| Colour | Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 7 | CROSSHAVEN | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 11 | 57.5kg | $9 | ||
 |
2 | 8 | BARTLEY |
Peter & Paul Snowden | Mark Zahra | 1.5L | 2 | 57kg | $4.80 | |
 |
3 | 3 | CHERRY TORTONI | Patrick Payne | Billy Egan | 2.25L | 9 | 58kg | $5.50 | |
 |
4 | 9 | CROWN MINT | Gordon Richards | Craig Williams | 2.45L | 3 | 57kg | $26 | |
 |
5 | 12 | IRONEDGE | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Ben Melham | 3.45L | 8 | 57kg | $15 | |
 |
6 | 5 | KHOEKHOE |
Matt Cumani | Fred W Kersley | 4.95L | 6 | 57.5kg | $21 | |
 |
7 | 2 | RATHLIN | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jye McNeil | 5.05L | 5 | 58kg | $26 | |
 |
8 | 10 | SO YOU CAN | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Damien Oliver | 5.15L | 1 | 57kg | $10 | |
 |
9 | 11 | JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ) | Denis Pagan | Lachlan King (a) | 6.65L | 7 | 57kg | $26 | |
 |
10 | 13 | NATIONAL CHOICE |
Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Michael Dee | 8.4L | 10 | 57kg | $17 | |
 |
11 | 1 | IMMORTAL LOVE | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Craig Newitt | 9.15L | 4 | 58.5kg | $3.70F | |
|
6 | AIM | Peter & Paul Snowden | 0 | ||||||
 |
4 | TANKER | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
