The Group 1 $2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 is the likely main spring aim for Crosshaven following their big win from out wide in the Listed $140,000 Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington.

Bartley ran second in the 2020 Exford Plate for Team Snowden. Photo: Taron Clarke.

An early feature on the Makybe Diva Stakes Day card, the Exford Plate saw the undefeated Immortal Love for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr jump favourite but eventually cross last as the Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes-trained Crosshaven scored an upset.

Taking his record up to three wins from four starts with a stylish second-up performance, the Smart Missile gelding showed nice improvement off his sixth a fortnight back in the Group 3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 29 behind Immortal Love.

Ridden to his first Black-Type victory by Daniel Stackhouse, Crosshaven crossed over from his wide gate in the Exford Plate to sit up on the speed travelling second on the outside of front-runner Bartley.

Peter & Paul Snowden’s promising Written Tycoon colt Bartley, backing-up off a 2.3 length 1300m win at Warwick Farm from September 2, led into the turn and gave a kick on the inside down the straight.

Crosshaven kept finding however as the pair went stride-for-stride over the closing stages before the eventual winner moved up, took the lead and drew clear in a terrific performance.

In third rounding out the Exford Plate trifecta in an excellent first-up run was the previously unbeaten Cherry Tortoni.

Patrick Pyane’s boom Night Of Thunder gelding was a two-time winner at the track last season including carrying 61kg to victory over the mile in Black-Type company back in July and, from third last in the run, did his best work late fresh in the Exford.

Crosshaven is likely to run next-up in the Group 3 $250,000 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 26 before heading into the Group 1 over a mile.

Long John (2013) for Peter Snowden was the last three-year-old to complete the Exford Plate – Caulfield Guineas double.

All-in Caulfield Guineas 2020 odds at Ladbrokes.com.au – available in full here – have firmed in from $34 into $17 on Crosshaven, while Exford Plate disappointment Immortal Love has drifted out from $15 to $26.

2020 Exford Plate Results

Colour	Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Penalty	Starting Price
	1	7	CROSSHAVEN	Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes	Daniel Stackhouse		11	57.5kg		$9
	2	8	BARTLEY	Peter & Paul Snowden	Mark Zahra	1.5L	2	57kg		$4.80
	3	3	CHERRY TORTONI	Patrick Payne	Billy Egan	2.25L	9	58kg		$5.50
	4	9	CROWN MINT	Gordon Richards	Craig Williams	2.45L	3	57kg		$26
	5	12	IRONEDGE	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Ben Melham	3.45L	8	57kg		$15
	6	5	KHOEKHOE	Matt Cumani	Fred W Kersley	4.95L	6	57.5kg		$21
	7	2	RATHLIN	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Jye McNeil	5.05L	5	58kg		$26
	8	10	SO YOU CAN	Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas	Damien Oliver	5.15L	1	57kg		$10
	9	11	JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ)	Denis Pagan	Lachlan King (a)	6.65L	7	57kg		$26
	10	13	NATIONAL CHOICE	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Michael Dee	8.4L	10	57kg		$17
	11	1	IMMORTAL LOVE	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Craig Newitt	9.15L	4	58.5kg		$3.70F
		6	AIM	Peter & Paul Snowden			0
		4	TANKER	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	John Allen		0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.