Mike Breslin is hoping the horse he named after one of his favourite footballers, Peter Crouch, can earn him a ticket into Australia’s most coveted race.
The Awapuni trainer has travelled across the Tasman with his quality stayer Crouch, who will line-up in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, with the winner earning a ballot exempt entry into November’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The six-year-old son of Tarzino has already proven himself over two miles, finishing runner-up in the last two editions of the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), and Breslin is looking forward to testing his staying capabilities in Melbourne this weekend.
While Breslin said his charge has felt the effects of the long trip from his Palmerston North base, he has come through it well and he has settled in nicely to his temporary surroundings at expat Kiwi trainer Rachael Frost’s Pakenham barn.
“It is a long trip,” Breslin said. “He went to Auckland and then flew over here and out to Pakenham where he is staying with Rachael Frost, and she has got good facilities. He has brightened up a lot in the last 48 hours.”
Crouch has been in the form of his life this year, following his Wellington Cup placing up with another bold placing in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m), before winning the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Otaki last month.
While it has been a month between runs, Breslin said Crouch likes his races spaced, and he has been kept up to the mark and had a pleasing exhibition gallop at Woodville a fortnight ago.
“He is pretty clean-winded and it has never worried him having gaps between his races,” Breslin said. “He has got a reasonable record (fresh), he ran a good third in the Awapuni Gold Cup six weeks after the Wellington Cup.”
While hopeful of a bold showing this weekend, Breslin said Crouch’s main Australian target is the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) at Caulfield in a fortnight.
He was weighing up a hit-and-run mission at the two-mile feature and giving Crouch a lead-in run in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m), but he felt the time was right to test his mettle against fellow Melbourne Cup hopefuls this weekend.
“I tossed up whether to run him in the Rotorua Cup and then bring him over here just for the Sandown Cup, but we thought we might as well come over for the two races,” Breslin said. “Even though this race sounds like a bigger race with more prestige, the Sandown Cup is probably the race he should be able to be very competitive in.”
While he holds reserved expectations ahead of the weekend, Breslin is still dreaming of securing a Melbourne Cup berth.
“He is a six-year-old gelding and he is probably just reaching his best judging by his last three runs, so it is a good time to bring him over here and A$300,000 is a good stake,” he said. “He has run good two-mile races, so 2800m should be within his capabilities around here.
“If he wins he has got a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup. I am not saying that is my plan and why he is running in that race, but it is there if the best did happen.”
Crouch will jump from barrier four with jockey Harry Coffey aboard, and he is currently rated a $21 winning chance with TAB bookmakers.
Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, Breslin will be represented by two runners at Otaki on Saturday, including Ima Brazen One in the Jennian Homes Handicap (1200m).
The five-year-old mare was hampered by a fall at her last start at Woodville and made up a lot of ground to finish within a neck of winner Sindee, and Breslin is confident of another bold showing from her this weekend.
“It was lucky that she didn’t get brought down last start,” Breslin said. “She was unlucky that she didn’t win the race, but she was extremely lucky that she wasn’t involved in the fall.
“I am very happy with her heading into Saturday and she should make her presence felt.”
Breslin is also upbeat about the chances of last-start winner Kereti in the Vets On Riverbank Handicap (1400m).
“I am seeing improvement in his racing attitude and his attitude in general this preparation, and I am hoping that carries on,” Breslin said.
“I don’t think he focussed entirely on his racing as a younger horse, he ran a lot of placings and his ability suggests he should have probably won one or two more races. He beat himself a few times but this time in his attitude and focus has been better. I am happy with him.”
Ima Brazen One is currently a $5 equal second favourite behind Sindee ($3.80) for her contest, while Kereti is rated a $11 winning chance for his race. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
