After a long break, he returned with an easy trial win at Te Rapa in late September, however plans to resume in the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on October 12 were scrapped due to a continuation of wet spring weather.
“With the likelihood of a wet track, we just backed off him, but the beauty of this horse is that with one good gallop, he’s back up to speed,” Walker said.
“Under the set weight and penalty conditions, he gets into the Concorde with 58 kilos, which is a kilo less than what he would carry at weight-for-age, so he’s nicely in.”
All going to plan, Crocetti will then seek to complete unfinished business in the Group 1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), for which he is the equal $6 favourite with Tomadachi.
After finishing third in last year’s Concorde, Crocetti was set for the Telegraph, scheduled for the first time on the first Saturday in January, however 13mm of overnight rain meant a Soft7 track and he was scratched.
Returning north, his attention then turned to the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m), which he won in a photo-finish from star 3-year-old filly Alabama Lass.
“I think the Telegraph is an ideal race for him, a weight-for-age 1200m down the chute, so we’re really looking forward to it,” Walker said.
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
