THE three best colts in the country fought out an enthralling Randwick Guineas last Saturday with the Street Sense colt Hallowed Crown the victor. Just six faced the starter in the 1,600 metre Group 1 and it was Shooting To Win who took up the tempo as Hallowed Crown sat off him and Sweynesse lingered near the tail.

The field tracked wide on the bend into the straight allowing Sweynesse to cut the corner and be first to tackle Shooting To Win. The latter responded as Hugh Bowman on Hallowed Crown raised the effort. All three were level with 100 metres to go with Hallowed Crown getting over the top to win by three-quarters of a length from the Lonhro colt Sweynesse with the Northern Meteor colt Shooting To Win a head away in third.

“I’m telling you my horse fights like a caged lion,” said James Cummings, co-trainer with his grandfather Bart. “He’s the best three-year-old colt in the country and he showed it again today. He showed them before, he beat them again today and he’ll beat them in two weeks if he fights again and in another four. I’m hoping he can take on the Japanese now because this carnival gives us a chance to take on the world.”

Cummings will now send Hallowed Crown to the 1,500 metre George Ryder Stakes on March 21st, won last year by Gordon Lord Byron, with a run in the Doncaster on April 4th the next most likely option after that. Bred by Gooree Park, Hallowed Crown has now won six of seven and added a second Group 1 to his record having won the Golden Rose in September.