Crossbow aims up for late season 2YO win at Randwick races

Crossbow is ready to take his place in the Schweppes Handicap at Randwick, but his connections are treading carefully, knowing how unpredictable two-year-old races can be.

Racing in the Star Thoroughbreds colours, the Chris Waller-trained gelding is a $4.20 chance in a market led by Pillow Fight ($2.50) and Tomato Toastie ($3.60), the three standing out in the nine-runner field.

Crossbow has shown potential in his limited starts. After being gelded following a run behind Golden Slipper placegetter Wodeton, he resumed with a close second to stablemate Central Coast at Canterbury.

“He’s a lovely horse. He ran second to one last start that is beautifully bred, by Wootton Bassett out of Sunlight,” said Denise Martin.

“Chris has been very happy with him. He has trialled well and raced well and we look as though we’re going to get a decent track and small field.

“He is a really handsome, almost black horse. He’s by Better Than Ready and he’s got a really nice way about him. It’s a good race for him after the nice run at Canterbury.”

Jason Collett is booked to ride from barrier one, and while Crossbow has race experience on his side, Martin knows better than to make predictions when so many unknowns exist.

Pillow Fight, who impressed first-up and raced in Listed grade last time out, brings solid form, while Tomato Toastie adds further depth to a competitive field that includes a few unraced runners.

“All I know is when you’ve got two-year-olds and there are unraced horses, you don’t know whether your horse is running against Usain Bolt or me,” Martin quipped.

“You just don’t know what they’re up against.”

This weekend’s race presents one of the final chances for two-year-olds to break through in a Saturday metropolitan event before the season ends on July 31.

Those looking into betting on the Schweppes Handicap will be weighing up proven form versus unknown debutants in a typically tricky juvenile contest.