Talented galloper Nishino Crescent ($1.40) posted his second career win at Sale on Sunday, repaying the punters’ faith as he stepped out a red-hot favourite over 1717-metres. The enigmatic son of Satono Aladdin began cleanly before easing back to the tail early on, jockey Jordan Childs happy to watch it all unfold before him, as a 100/1 pop ensured a solid tempo in front. Childs was still last on straightening, though only a few lengths off the leader, and needing room as runners began to tire in the run home. He shouldered clear on the five-year-old at the furlong marker and hit the lead soon after, engaging in a two-horse battle with Slane ($3.40) for the remainder of the event. Nishino Crescent was never in any real danger of losing the race, the winning margin of just 0.2-lengths not indicative of the relative comfort of the victory. “I thought he was really entitled to go on with it and put them away quite convincingly, but he just has a little bit of a think about it”, Childs said post-race.
As for the gelding’s manners in the run, the Group One-winning hoop was pleased. “He went relatively straight today. He didn’t want to hang-in that bad”.
Henry echoed his jockey’s thoughts regarding the nature of the win. “Even though he won by a small margin, he was never going to get beaten as such. He looked like he was going to win more impressively than he did, and that’s just a hallmark of this horse. He’s never going to win by a big margin”.
Henry went on to explain that his galloper “didn’t have much of a blow afterwards”, suggesting his breathing was good and there was plenty left to give had he been challenged more seriously.
The gelding will spend the next fortnight at the beach at St Leonards before a possible return to the races later in the month.
Nishino Crescent is yet to miss a placing in five Australian runs, building an impressive record as he eyes better races in the autumn and winter months.