Last season’s champion male three-year-old Crocetti returned to his brilliant best at Ellerslie on Saturday, defeating a star-studded sprint field in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m).
The Zacinto gelding was one of the standout performers on the Karaka Millions card 12 months ago, extending his unbeaten career record to seven-from-seven with a dominant performance under 60kg in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). It capped a winning sequence that also included the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) and Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
But Crocetti has been through his share of ups and downs through the 12 months since he hit those lofty heights, winning only one of his next five starts. He was scratched from the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham earlier this month because of unsuitable wet ground.
Crocetti made a big impression with a blistering gallop between races at Ellerslie on January 12, giving his connections plenty of confidence leading into Saturday’s $700,000 Railway. But that confidence was washed away by heavy rain in the 90 minutes leading into the race, with Crocetti jumping from the inside gate on deteriorating ground.
Jockey Warren Kennedy was able to get away from the fence within the first 200m of the race, taking up a position in fourth behind Babylon Berlin, Alabama Lass and Luberon.
That trio appeared to have the finish to themselves halfway down the home straight, with Alabama Lass edging ahead of a brave Babylon Berlin while Luberon chased hard down the outside.
But then Kennedy switched Crocetti across heels and into a gap between Alabama Lass and Luberon, and the horse took care of the rest. Crocetti pinned his ears back and roared home, getting the better of Alabama Lass in the final strides to snatch victory by a short head.
It was the second consecutive Railway victory for Kennedy, who won the race aboard Waitak last year.
“This means the world to me,” Kennedy said. “Everyone knows Daniel Nakhle (owner-breeder) was instrumental in getting me to New Zealand, and Crocetti and I have such a fantastic bond.
“His preparation hadn’t been the best until today, he just hasn’t stepped up. I told Danny (Walker, co-trainer) that he was getting there too easily and just getting cruisy and not attacking the line. I suggested that we try some blinkers
“You saw the gallop here a couple of weeks ago, where I couldn’t hold him, and now he’s really attacked the line today. The old Crocetti is back, for sure.
“Being drawn one on a horse that likes dry ground, I was worried when the rain came. But I got him off the fence straight away and we had a lovely run through. The splits came when I needed them, and the way that he attacked the line proved that he’s back. He wanted to win. He really fought for it and deserved it.”
Trained by Danny Walker in partnership with Arron Tata, Crocetti has now had 13 starts for nine wins, two placings and $1.19 million in stakes.
“Unbelievable,” Walker said. “I thought he was battling 200m from the finish. He was grabbing the ground, like he does when it’s wet and he’s not comfortable. But then he just tried and really stuck his neck out.
“Going into the Telegraph, I was so confident that he could win that race. I went to bed happy on the Friday night, but then it was wet on Saturday morning and it was a disaster.
“He’s just a super horse and he showed that today.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
