Crafty Cruiser a ‘warrior’

TORQUAY’S Bryce Stanaway thinks it would be fitting for Crafty Cruiser to win Sunday’s inaugural 4600m Jericho Cup at Warrnambool as he’s a warrior.

“You’d want the toughest horse in the race to win to celebrate what those tough horses did and Crafty is the toughest,” Stanaway said.

“I’d go to war with him. I tell you there wouldn’t be a better horse to have in that situation. He’d be able to carry a few soldiers on his back.”

The Jericho Cup, Australia’s longest flat race, is the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the three-mile race which the military men of the Light Horse ran in Palestine during World War I. Making it even more fitting is that Stanaway said one of his relatives was in the Light Horse.

It’s hard to argue with Stanaway’s assertion as the elevenyear-old has had 142 starts and covered 335 kilometres in the process.

The next most experienced horse in the race is Grassini who has had 90 starts and he’s also the second oldest at 10.

Crafty Cruiser hasn’t won since April which is 17 starts ago and Stanaway has heard the calls for retirement.

“As soon as something is wrong with him he’ll be retired. Even if that doesn’t happen it could still be on Sunday,” Stanaway said.

Stanaway said when he gives Crafty Cruiser a couple of days off, the gelding is pushing on his gate wanting to get out to get worked as he loved it.

“What I’ve done is look after him, which is why he’s been able to have so much racing. I just put the miles into his legs. How many horses do you see have 10 to 15 starts and break down? They’re the ones which people should be talking about.”

Stanaway has already mapped Crafty Cruiser’s future as he will be forced to retire from racing in Victoria on August 1 next year as 12-year-olds are banned from racing.

“He’ll go to my sister’s grandchildren on the North Island and he’ll go showjumping.”