Light campaign working well for strong-finishing Crossing

While David Oughton's Derby horse from last year, Precision, was doing the ultimate job at Sha Tin yesterday, his Derby horse for this season was revealing himself as Bowman's Crossing produced a barnstorming finish to take the sixth.

Under Douglas Whyte, Bowman's Crossing was unsuited by a slowish tempo but found the line strongly now he has been stepped up to 1,800 metres. 'I've always felt he was my Derby horse,' Oughton said. 'But due to the programming for a horse of his rating, there were no races to run him in except 1,400-metre races and they have been too short. He has a fantastic attitude to racing, this horse, and he really wants 2,000, that's when we'll see his best.'

But we won't see it this year. Oughton said he will keep to his policy of handling Bowman's Crossing on a light campaign. 'He will most likely only have one more run before the Derby,' he said. 'That might be in the Classic Mile or my preference would probably be for the 1,800-metre race a week or two before the Derby, the race Precision ran second in this year.'

Trainer Tony Cruz did not need to look too far for a guide to the chance of his last-race winner Citizen Kane yesterday. 'I thought he was my best chance all day,' Cruz said as he watched the gelding streak home to notch up a double for the yard and stable rider Felix Coetzee, who combined to take the fourth with Medic Corps. 'He finished just behind Electronic Unicorn and that form looked OK after the big mile.'

Medic Corps overcame barrier 12 to win the earlier event and take his 1,400-metre record to three wins and four seconds from nine starts at the trip, but he's getting used to that.

'He draws out every start, it's unbelievable,' the trainer said. 'I was afraid of the alley going into the race but he was able to get a good run. The horse gets a bad gate every time and still is very consistent. I think he is going to keep improving.'