Gallant Crown will look to extend his unbeaten run to four when he lines up in Wednesday’s (17 March) Class 3 Hereford Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley and jockey Karis Teetan is optimistic that he can continue his climb up the handicap with yet another win at the city circuit.
Facing Class 3 for the first time, the Hallowed Crown gelding has been a sensation this season as a three-time winner in a category lower – all over this course and distance – but tomorrow night he faces his stiffest test yet against a stronger collection of adversaries.
“He’s in good form this season, all of his runs have been good and he’s actually improving into a really nice horse,” Teetan said of the New Zealand-bred.
“The two wins that I have been aboard for he carried a heavy weight but he’s kept on getting better and I think now going up to Class 3 with less weight on his back – he can still be competitive,” the 30-year-old added.
Trained by Tony Millard – who is enjoying a fine season with 19 wins – the four-year-old has beaten all in front of him since early December and has the chance to join Golden Sixty and Winning Dreamer as the only horses to win four or more consecutive races this season.
“He’s a gentle horse and he actually can do whatever you like with him – I think that’s what allows him to keep improving all of the time,” Teetan said of the four-year-old’s adaptability.
The bay will lug 119lb tomorrow evening opposed to the 129lb he carried to victory last start.