A maiden boasting form behind some of Sydney’s best three-year-old sprinters will bid to deliver Hawkes Racing its second Brian Crowley Stakes in as many years.
Twelve months after winning the Listed 1200-metre race with Diplomatico, trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes will saddle up Dirty Work against six rivals.
The colt was also an acceptor for Moonee Valley on Saturday but has been scratched from the Australia Stakes in preference for Randwick with stablemate Three Beans to fly the stable flag in Melbourne.
Dirty Work has three placings from six starts, including a Group Two third behind Golden Rose winner Bivouac when he resumed at Caulfield in August.
His past two runs have also been in smart company and have yielded successive fourths behind Standout in the Heritage Stakes and Cosmic Force in the Roman Consul Stakes when he briefly pushed the winner.
“He got beaten by some good horses the other day and he’s still a maiden but he has always shown nice ability,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“It looks like a nice race and he should run well.”
In an open betting race which has five of the seven runners at $8 and under, Dirty Work is a $5 chance with last-start winner Faretti favourite for Tulloch Lodge.
With Villami scratched to run in the Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, Kris Lees will saddle up the only filly in the Brian Crowley, Regimental Band.
Stakes-placed behind Libertini at Scone in May, Regimental Band resumed with a win over subsequent Reginald Allen Quality winner Akari before an even sixth behind Segalas on the Kensington track when beaten less than a length.
Mindful the filly is ready to rise in distance, Lees has made a key gear change to keep her sharp for Saturday’s sprint trip.
“Our risk on Saturday is the 1200,” Lees said.
“We”ve added blinkers to her gear because she probably wants further ground, which she will get in time, but I expect her to run very well.”