Simon Crisford takes aim at the biggest prize of his short training career when First Selection runs in the Brian Yeardley Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy at Beverley on Saturday.
The former Godolphin racing manager has only saddled a handful of runners from Calne Stables, in Newmarket, yet has already secured two victories.
First Selection was the second of Crisford’s winners on April 27 when he claimed a two-and-a-half-length victory in a five-furlong maiden at Southwell.
The son of Diktat now steps up in class for the coveted £25,000 conditions stakes for colts and geldings – a race which has a rich history of producing Royal Ascot runners.
“The Brian Yeardley race is a perfect fit for him,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager for the colt’s owner, Abdulla Al Mansoori.
“We bought him at the breeze-ups and he was a very settled horse, and that’s always a good thing to see.
“He was well prepared, and Simon felt he was ready to go and win first time out.
“We sent him to an admittedly ordinary race at Southwell, and he won as he should have done.
“He’s bred to get further (than five furlongs) and you’d like to think the track would suit him.
“He’s a horse that could progress.”
Beverley’s twin feature on a superb card is the £25,000 Hilary Needler Trophy for juvenile fillies harbouring Ascot pretensions.
North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan has won the five-furlong sprint three times in the last 10 years and this season saddles Company Asset, who finished third on her debut at Wolverhampton on April 11.
The winner that day, Delizia, has since struck in the Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York so the form looks strong.
Cosmo Charlton, racing manager for her owners, Hambleton Racing Ltd, said: “She a nice filly, but we’re chucking her in at the deep end a bit.
“She could have gone for another maiden, but the track and the ground should suit her really well.
“She travelled really nicely at Wolverhampton and the form is there for all to see.
“The Hilary Needler looks a very good race this year, but the stiff track should be in her favour.
“We’d be really happy if she finished in the first four.”
The official going at Beverley is good to firm, good in places, with the seven-race fixture due to begin at 2.05pm.
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