Validate on verge of step towards Golden Sands

By Pat McLeod

Validate has broken a track record and won a feature in his past two outings, but trainer Jeff Crawford is now hoping for a ‘massive step up’.

That is what the shrewd conditioner believes will be required for the Aston Rupee and Strike Her Pose chaser to make a major impact over 600 metres in the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival.

“I am really excited about (Validate’s) prospects over 600 metres in this carnival,” Crawford said leading into Thursday night’s Middle Distance Challenge heats over 600 metres on the Q2 Parklands track.

“He has to make a massive step up from his recent racing because there will be plenty of very good dogs coming from interstate for these races.

“And, Thursday night will be a big step up, but I think he is capable of being more than competitive. I am really looking forward to see how he goes.”

Crawford, whose kennel has celebrated a sensational 2025, is looking to end the year and start 2026 on a high via the Summer Carnival.

Those plans took a jolt with a recent injury to kennel king Blue Blend during a trial for a Phoenix slot at the Meadows.

However, that news had barely had time to sink in before Validate grabbed the spotlight with a track record (30.18 seconds) run in a heat of the QGOLD Summer Chase over 550 metres on the Q1.

He followed that up by claiming the Final last Saturday night.

Crawford is now following a long-held plan to continue that dog’s progression up in distance to 600 metres. 

The hoped-for initial target is the Group 1 Golden Sands over 600 metres on the Q2 track. 

The heats are on January 8 before the Final on January 15.

“There are some good 600 metre races coming up and it has been a long-range plan to step him up to 600 metres,” he said.

“The 550 metre races on the Q1 where a really good preparation for that. I also squeezed in a 600 metre race at the Q2 a couple of weeks ago to give him a look.

“He led for much of the race and was run down. I was disappointed with that, but since then he was able to win the heat and Final of the QGOLD over the 550 metres.

“So now we are back to the Q2 this Thursday night over the 600 metres. Hopefully with the extra runs under his belt he is probably better prepared now for 600 metre racing.

“It will be interesting to see how he goes on Thursday night and I will be learning a little bit more about him. This race of course funnels into the Group 1 Golden Sands and that is the race that I hope to head towards with him.

“Before that is this Middle Distance Challenge and then the New Year's Trophy (also over 600 metres on the Q2).

“Thursday night will be a very good indicator of his ability now over this distance.”

The three heats of the Middle Distance Challenge are packed with quality including Tom Tzouvelis’ Autumn Storm and Stowaway, Mark Moroney’s Goldmine Fire and Firebird, Riley Evans’ Goldstar Sandler and Michael Landrigan’s Apache Tiger.

Crawford revealed there is a glimmer of hope that Blue Blend may re-appear for the Summer Carnival’s highlight, the $250,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Gold Bullion over 520 metres.

Heats are on January 29 before the Final on February 5.

“I won't say ‘never’ as far as a possibility of him returning before the end of this carnival,” Crawford offered in relation to Blue Blend.

“It all comes down to how he recovers and recuperates. We are banking on time being the biggest healer.

“He won't be able to run for quite some time, but when he is ready, that will all happen quite quickly when the recovery takes place.”