Universal Prince still carries the scars from his recent mad bolt around Flemington, but trainer Bede Murray is confident the gelding has taken no harm from the incident. However, he is more concerned about the state of the surface and the Moonee Valley circuit for the AAMI Vase, 2,040m. Universal Prince was trapped wide in a slow lane when ninth in the Caulfield Guineas last start behind Skalato, which seemed to find faster ground closer to the fence. But he gave me the impression he was very promising. Skalato is the pick.
Crawl is due for a change of luck in the Waterford Crystal Mile.
Last time out, Crawl was third to Umrum in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield at a meeting favouring frontrunners. Crawl may be suspect on wet tracks but there are mudlarks in his family. Chattanooga should be comfortable in the conditions and his liking for Moonee Valley gives him a high rating, along with Allez Suez, a victim of interference in the Toorak. Crawl to swoop. In the Crown Trophy, Regulations, now with a new trainer, Allan Denham, has good Moonee Valley credentials for a Sydney horse.