2000 Guineas hope to step out at Te Rapa

[Wandering Eyes]

Danny Walker believes he has found his horse of a lifetime.

The South Auckland trainer had an inkling that Zacinto gelding Crocetti (NZ) might be special and now after three wins from as many starts, he’s convinced of it.

Walker and his training partner Arron Tata will produce the Daniel Nakhle co-bred and owned Crocetti in Friday’s St John’s College Foundation 3yo (1200m) at Te Rapa as they continue his build-up to a planned tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 51st NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 11.

“He’s got that natural ability and he’s been winning on natural ability so far,” Walker said.

“He just seems to be faster than the rest at the moment, but the better ones are still to come. But he just gives us all the indications of a good horse.”

Walker knew Crocetti had above average ability last year and had visions of him developing into a Sires’ Produce winner before a series of niggling issues relating to him growing saw him sidelined through the autumn.

“Even before Christmas, I said to Daniel: ‘I think this horse is special’ and he said: ‘Really, pal?’ I told him I really thought he was the bee’s knees. 

“I was driving out from the jumpouts at Pukekohe and I said to Arron: ‘This might be the horse we’ve been looking for’.”

However, Walker feared Crocetti would be sold.

“We only race what we can’t sell but Daniel wanted to keep him, so that was great,” Walker said.

“He just had this natural ability. Arron gets a great feel of a horse when he’s working them and he’s never far wrong. He said from day one this always had something.

“He’s not a big, robust horse but he’s a nice boned horse and he’s got stronger now. He’s just a born racehorse really.”

Walker admitted he was nervous about Crocetti striking a genuinely rain-affected track for the first time at Te Rapa.

“He’s such a lovely actioned horse and sometimes those nice-actioned horses hit the wet and go out of kilter a bit. But I’m not worried about the horse at all – he’s happy,” he said.

“This is a perfect race for timing. It’s three weeks to the Sarten (Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial over 1400m at Te Rapa on October 21) and then three weeks to the Guineas. 

“We backed off him after his last win at Ruakaka, which was always the plan. We didn’t want to go to Hastings and do too much travelling. We’re hoping the plan can come off.”

Walker has no doubt that Crocetti is the most naturally talented horse he has trained, perhaps poised to give him his second Group One one, some 36 years after Rastes (NZ) (Super Gray) won the 1987 Welllington Cup (3200m) at Trentham.

“Rastes was just a tough, old bugger. He was so lazy at home but he would put in on raceday. He’d been sacked for being too slow by two stables before he came to me. But he wouldn’t have been a patch on this horse (Crocetti) on class.”

Walker and Tata will also produce Iffraaj eight-year-old gelding Crystallize (NZ) in the Fluid Power Distributors Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.

With Triston Moodley’s 4kg apprentice allowance, Crystallize will carry just 54.5kg on his favoured rain-affected track conditions, the combination of a light wet and suitable conditions a rarity these days for the highly-rated veteran.

“He’s probably on the verge of retirement. He’s struggling with the big weights. He gets down to 54.5 kilos on Friday which is a luxury for him but this doesn’t happen very often now,” Walker said.

“He might have one more run after this depending on how he goes but if we turn him out after that, it’s a long time waiting till June next year to get a suitable track for him as a rising nine-year-old.

“He just loves being in the stable, loves being in work. He’s a pleasure to train. He’s our old mate, a real character, but there’s just a lack of suitable options for a mudlark like him with where he’s at in the handicap.

“I’ve found him a really good home for when he does retire. He’ll go to a lady at Waiuku who has her own farm and he’ll make a great hack. He’ll go to the beach and to the forest so he’s got a great home to go to.”

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