Readers may remember this two-year-old was sent to the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster for the first turf race of the season. Turner has been exceptional in that race and was interviewed on the day by Simon Mapletoft for At The Races.
However, Turner gave the impression this son of Pivotal wasn't a sprinter and the race proved without question this bay colt struggled to go the pace and looked disappointing.
Considering this is one of the most expensive horses Turner has ever trained for Eric Brook (40,000G) I imagine the trainer from Sigwells, Somerset had a sinking feeling. To be honest, I didn't notice Crucial Moment was running until just before the off at Salisbury in testing conditions when stepping up to 7f. It looked like the bookmakers and punters had forgotten too as he started at odds of 66/1. Tim Clark took the ride and the race by the scruff of the neck and led for most until tiring in the closing stages. If the going had been better, this colt may have gone close to winning. Considering he was beaten by one of the today's rivals, Eolian, the odds are sure to be much greater than not.
It's interesting Turner has booked five-pound apprentice Hector Crouch to ride and I think this colt will be sent to the front. He is priced 20/1 but I would suggest exchange players look to bay this horse before the off and lay in-running at much shorter odds.
I guess you are wondering why Bill Turner is sitting on a zebra? He paid £2,000 for it to take him to the local pub so he wouldn't fear drink driving. It's true.
Crucial Moment @ 20/1 Exchange backers - lay at shorter odds in-running *NR