Smart Missile Gelding Back to Winning Form

Tara Madgwick - Saturday June 22

The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Crosshaven recorded the seventh win of his career after closing late to land the Country Achiever Shane Fliedner (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Crosshaven bursts clear of his rivals to win at Flemington. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

The son of Smart Missile was patiently handled by Luke Currie before navigating a path closest to the fence, scoring his first win since his triumph in the Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) back in November 2022.

With the rail out 11 metres and the fresher ground out wide, Crosshaven defied his inside draw to score at odds of $17.

The Karaka graduate has now advanced his career earnings to A$1,118,103, with the Lindsay Park team showing their training nous to help the six-year-old gelding get back to the winner’s circle.

“Ben (Hayes) said he gave him a jump this morning and got his mind on the job,” Currie said.

“He jumped okay, and I was happy to just let that speed go, thinking that everything would come out (towards the outside fence).

“I just held him up until the furlong and then he found clear air and he burst through and was strong.

Advertisement

“If you end up going back to the inside, there is plenty of room there and I thought the track is a bit more even than it looks like it is racing but he has done a good job to go back to the inside and win from there.”

Bred by Auckland-based Daniel Nakhle, the five-year-old gelding is one of five winners from as many to race out the Group Two winner Irish Colleen, who Nakhle had purchased for just $8,500 at the 2005 NZB National Weanling Sale and enjoyed racing with father Elias.

Crosshaven is closely related to Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Crocetti, who is out of his O’Reilly half-sister Gracehill.

An $80,000 yearling graduate of Haunui Farm’s 2019 Karaka Book 1 draft, Crosshaven was initially passed in before selling to Lindsay Park with Nakhle retaining a share.

Now the winner of seven of his 44 starts, Crosshaven has also been placed on nine occasions. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - 2024 Country Achiever Shane Fliedner Qlty 1100m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.18
1
Crosshaven
- 6g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: L Currie 56
2
0.5
Veloce Carro
- 4g Nicconi (AUS) x Pollywagon (AUS) (Duporth (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
3
0.7
Ranting
- 6g Zoustar (AUS) x Vanilla Ice Cream (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: M J Dee 54
4
0.8
Zethus
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Melpomene (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: S V Brown Rdr: Tatum Bull 54
5
1.8
Extremely Lucky
- 5g Extreme Choice (AUS) x Tamarind Lane (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: W Clarken & N O'Shea Rdr: B Shinn 57
6
2
Who Dares
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Orvassa (AUS) (Equiano (FR))
Tnr: Pat Carey & Harris Walker Rdr: Patrick Moloney 58.5
7
3.8
Along The River
- 5g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Kulgrinda (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: M & L Cerchi Rdr: J Ford 54
8
3.9
Ashford Street
- 6g Moshe (AUS) x Magic By Gosh (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: Teodore Nugent 60
9
13.9
Maximillius
- 4g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Scandiva (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Jones Rdr: C Newitt 54
10
18.9
Inundation
- 5g Headwater (AUS) x Flippity Lass (AUS) (Dream Ahead (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
More Reading...
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Out of the Wilderness - Crosshaven Strikes in Heffernan Stakes
While he may not have lived up to his early promise when winning the Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude, Group III Carbine Club Stakes and placing in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes, Crosshaven proved he is far from a spent force when successful in Saturday’s Group III Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.