Kronus staked his credentials for the upcoming Classic races by scoring a fighting win in a maiden condition race going over the testing distance of 1,700 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The Richard Azan-conditioned three-year-old bay colt, who proved no match for the classy filly Waheed Najmah as the 2-5 howling favourite on his last outing over 1,200 metres, made no mistake this time in a lesser quality 11-horse field.

With Dane Nelson in the irons, Kronus, after turning back the challenge from Superluminal and Original Train turning for home, had to withstand another late challenge, this time from Action Man (Prince Holder aboard) in the last furlong of the race to win by three-quarter lengths.

Superluminal (Omar Walker up) was third and Original Train, the mount of Richard Mairs, completed the frame.

Owned by Elite Bloodstock Limited and bred by YS (1955) Limited, Kronus (Liquidity – Surface To Air) covered the distance in a moderate 1:48:0 minutes behind splits 24:0, 47:1, 1:13:3 and 1:40:1 minutes.

Meanwhile, both Omar Walker and Aaron Chatrie rode two winners each on the nine-race programme to take the jockeys’ honours.

Walker won aboard Cause For Concern in the first race and St Bernard in the fifth race, while Chatrie’s winners were Nasheen in the seventh race and Infantry officer in the eighth race.

— Ruddy Allen