Roosevelt gets the vote in Crowley Stakes

The appearance of the highly-promising Roosevelt in Saturday’s Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick could provide one of the highlights of the spring so far for Godolphin’s Australian team.

An outstanding winner at his last start when he beat the older horses by six lengths, Roosevelt (Rachel King) comes back to three-year-old company for a race his trainer hopes is a stepping stone to something better.

The three-year-old son of Exceed And Excel's last start victory came at his fourth run and followed a solid performance in Melbourne at his previous outing behind G1 winner Written By.

The win also came on a bottomless track, which the colt seems certain to get again on Saturday.

While trainer James Cummings is keeping his enthusiasm in check, he is hopeful Roosevelt will prove worthy of a start in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington next month.

“He was thoroughly impressive against older horses at the midweeks and I’d like to think that performance earmarks him as one of the horses to beat here,” Cummings said.

“He brings the Written By form to Sydney, he relishes the going and this could be an interesting Coolmore Stakes trial for him.”

Roosevelt is out of the Stakes-winning mare Seances and is half brother to the quality Stakes winners Renaissance and Sessions.

On the same Randwick card, Cummings is looking forward to another well-related member of his team, Epidemic, returning to form in the G3 The Nivison.

Epidemic, a sister to the dual G1 winner Impending is joined in the race by stablemates Almanzora and Resin.

“Epidemic is thriving since coming back to Osborne Park after her defeat at Caulfield and she’s proven to be adept on rain affected going,” Cummings said.

“Almanzora might be a little bit out of her depth, but she’s been looking to get back to Randwick and up to 1200m and this could be a good opportunity to grab some black type.”

“Resin is a swimmer who is in terrific form, beating the males last time and is capable of taking a big step forward against much better credentialled mares.”