Peking Cruz on course for Sprint Championship
without a doubt, one of the most improved horses in training this season is the Richard Azan-conditioned Peking Cruz and the proof is there for all to see.
From nine career starts, Peking Cruz has won six times with one second-place finish and one third.
The improving threeyear-old chestnut gelding in parading his rise up the classes ran rivals into the ground to win the top-rated Open Allowance event on Saturday, September 15. It was his first run at the level, while completing his third consecutive win.
The win also kept his unbeaten record over the five-furlong (1000m) straight course in tact with four from four.
The speedy Peking Cruz with Dick Cardenas disputed the early lead holding a slight advantage over Wong Don (Shane Ellis) and Lightning Lily (Ian Spence) for the first half of the race. Coming across the dummy rails, Cardenas let out more than just a notch and Peking Cruz responded well and began to draw away from rivals.
With a quick shuffle in the final furlong (200m), Peking Cruz went on to score by a length and three quarters. Sarah Lee (Aaron Chatrie) came on well for second place and Lightning Lily third. The final time was a fast 58.0 seconds.
After the race Cardenas said that there is still more to come from Peking Cruz.
“He [Peking Cruz] is performing better and better each time when he races. I believe the five furlongs straight course is always going to be an easy race for him as he likes the distance. On the round course, he will win same way but in the straight, he is most dangerous,” Cardenas said.
When asked about the major sprint races later on in the year, Cardenas said: “He has a good chance, he can break and go to the front and he sit behind and run past them as well. It doesn’t