Organised Crime aims to conquer Blue Sapphire

Cranbourne-based trainer Lloyd Kennewell is anticipating a highly competitive Group 1 sprint for three-year-olds at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week, labelling it the race of the spring.

Kennewell is preparing two strong colts, Organised Crime and Mbube, for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) set to take place on October 31.

The former, Organised Crime, will have his final preparatory outing in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield this Saturday, as a stepping stone to the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

"This is the race that we have been aimed up at," Kennewell commented. "If you want to be a Coolmore horse, you need to be running very good on Saturday."

He further elaborated, "It's still a few weeks away (the Coolmore), but it's shaping as the best race of the spring as everyone is waiting for it. It's a stallion making race and it might not be a colt that wins it as the fillies look good too."

Organised Crime commenced his racing career with a debut win at Sale as a juvenile and subsequently finished second in the Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15.

His latest performance saw Organised Crime cross the line in fifth position in the Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 12.

A trial at Caulfield Heath on October 1 provided Organised Crime with further race fitness.

"Early in the prep, it was all a learning curve, and he has taken it all on," Kennewell said. "His last trial was terrific. It was slowly run and he relaxed good, breathed well, did it well, and I could not speak highly enough of the horse."

Kennewell continued, "We always thought he had it, so that's the way he was aimed up and now we're at the pointy end and if he runs well on Saturday, he steps into one of the hottest Coolmore's for more than 10 years. It will be good to have two quality colts in the Coolmore."

Kennewell highlighted the challenge of keeping a colt like Organised Crime engaged, given the spread of three-year-old races from early August through to late October/early November.

"He's 540 kilos. He loves the competition," Kennewell mentioned. "These three-year-old races are spread out so you have to keep them ticking over and colts like to be kept busy, not being lazy, so he's been at it all the way through."

"He looks super and I'm really looking forward to Saturday."

Mbube is slated for a straight-track trial at Flemington, a plan by Kennewell to prepare him for the Coolmore, following his third place in the Danehill Stakes (1100m) on October 3.

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