Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.
The four-year-old son of Zacinto was a standout in his three-year-old season, winning six of his seven starts, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), and was runner-up behind Bonny Lass in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
The Daniel Nakhle-bred and raced chestnut picked up where he left off, winning the Kerikeri Cup (1100m) first-up this season before placing in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) and winning the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night.
That triumph earned him Trackside NZ and Perth Racing’s slot in the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m), however, he tailed the field home in the Perth feature and has since enjoyed a well-earned spell.
Walker is delighted with the way Crocetti has returned to his South Auckland barn and is looking forward to preparing him for a potentially lucrative summer campaign.
“He came back into work on the weekend and he is looking really well,” Walker said. “He had a good spell and he is looking really good, he is quite happy and fresh.
“There are not a lot of weight-for-age races, and we will miss the early ones, but we will play it by ear and see how he comes up. He looks amazing.”
While his stable star has returned to his care, Walker’s focus this week is on Ruakaka’s meeting this Saturday where Amulet will be first-up in the Northland Business Systems (1200m), while Jurisprudence will contest the Tanalised Mile (1600m).
Justify entire Jurisprudence has had three starts for the stable since being purchased off Inglis Digital last year for A$30,000, with the former Australian placing in his New Zealand debut at Ellerslie in April before winning at the Auckland track a month later.
He didn’t handle the Heavy10 track conditions at Te Rapa last month and his trainers have opted to look further north for better footing.
“He was bought by a client of ours off the Inglis Digital sale and they sent him over here. He is a well-behaved colt, he is a lovely horse, and he has got a fair bit of ability,” Walker said.
“We are going for a slightly better track than Te Rapa, he absolutely hated it. Hopefully the track doesn’t get any worse than it is (Soft6) and it should suit him perfectly.
“He has worked really well and I am more than hopeful with him.”
Meanwhile, Walker is weighing up whether to start Amulet after she drew barrier 12 for her first-up assignment.
“A wide draw at Ruakaka over 1200m is not ideal, but we will have a think about it,” he said. “She is very well and trialled quite nicely. She is quite a promising filly.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
