Watson eyes sweep of features

Champion owner Carlton Watson’s chances of sweeping two of Saturday’s feature races depends on which DESERT OF MALIBU turns up to square off with Jason DaCosta’s CALIFORNIA CROWN in the open-allowance sprint at five furlongs round.

Watson’s United States-bred GIRVANO should be a shoo-in for the Kenneth Mattis Memorial at nine furlongs and 25 yards after his flying finish for second behind PHENOMENAL POWER in July’s Mouttet Mile.

A proven grade-one runner, GIRVANO was second to two-time Mouttet Mile runner-up LEGACY ISLE in June’s Eros Trophy at seven furlongs but ran a horrible race as the 6-5 favourite a month later when given a conditions bye to face overnight-allowance runners two classes lower in the Clovis Metcalfe won by PHENOMENAL POWER.