Australia: King of Hastings sharp for Creswick Stakes at Flemington

King of Hastings blitzed 12 rivals with a two-length win in the Gold Topaz Handicap at tiny Swan Hill Racecourse in Australia on June 6. King of Hastings is capable of big performances at more prominent venues.

The victory at Swan Hill for King of Hastings, the fourth in 10 starts, has led to an appearance in Saturday’s Creswick Stakes at six furlongs at Flemington Racecourse, the track famously known as the host of the Melbourne Cup each November.

King of Hastings has thrived at Flemington, winning a six-furlong handicap there in December and finishing second by a head in a five-furlong handicap at the track on May 16 in his first start since January.

Trained by Anthony Freedman, who is based at Flemington, King of Hastings will be favored in the Creswick Stakes, which drew a field of 14. King of Hastings will be ridden by Craig Willams, who is likely to have the 3-year-old Australian-bred in a stalking position.

King of Hastings is likely to be in pursuit of Front Page, who has won three of five starts, including his last two races, which came at 5 3/4 furlongs on May 25 and June 4.

The nine-race Flemington program begins at 9:45 p.m., Eastern, or 6:45 p.m., Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. The Creswick Stakes is the seventh race.

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The Creswick is the second start of 2020 for the filly I Am Eloquent, who won the Jim Moloney Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds in a 30-1 upset at Caulfield Racecourse last September. I Am Eloquent was third by three-quarters of a length in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Morphettville Racecourse on May 2.

Similar to King of Hastings, I Am Eloquent tends to race as a stalker.

Saturday’s race is the stakes debut for the filly Kalkarni Royale, a winner of three of four starts in a career that began with a maiden race win in April. Kalkarni Royale, who tends to race near the front, won a six-furlong handicap at Moonee Valley Racecourse on June 13 in a 17-1 upset. This is the quickest turnaround of her brief career.