Cream of the crop at weight-for-age big help in rising to the top
Crocetti and his fellow 3-year-olds may be rivals in today’s $400,000 BCD Sprint but they are also fighting for a common goal.
The 2000 Guineas winner is joined by Quintessa and the recentlygelded Solidify in the weight-for-age sprint on Te Rapa’s biggest day where they take on the older horses headed by Railway winner Waitak.
The 3-year-old trio are not just racing for individual glory in their
1400m Group 1 but to put a stamp on their crop. As great as a 3-year-old may be, nothing elevates its standing than beating the older horses at weight-for-age.
Greats such as McGinty and Bonecrusher did it, and in far more recent times, Imperatriz ended her
3-year-old season beating wonderful
open class mares, putting a seal of approval on a crop that included subsequent superstar I Wish I Win.
Last season was saw a double down, as Sharp ’N’ Smart won the Herbie Dyke he defends today, while Prowess won the Bonecrusher NZ Stakes, suggesting the 3-year-old crop was the real deal, and the results since have franked that.
So it is a good rule of thumb, if the 3-year-olds can beat the older horses at weight-for-age, the crop will produce elite horses in the years to come.
If Crocetti can justify his favouritism today, or Quintessa or Solidify surprise, then those they have been racing in their age group will bask in a reflected glory and the crop gets rated more highly.
Crocetti is the one most likely to embellish his mates, especially as he should sit handy to the pace, while key rivals such as Waitak and Dragon Leap could be a few horses back.
The last time Crocetti was let loose down the Te Rapa straight after a run like that, he blazed his final 400m of the Sarten Memorial in a sizzling 22.21 seconds, and he is stronger now and will carry less weight with 55.5kg today. That will take some catching.
Speaking of 3-year-old crops, last year’s should get some upgrades via Legarto or Sharp ’N’ Smart in the $600,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes today, while another member, Adam I Am, is the horse to beat in the new $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic.
The 3-year-old fillies on this season reach their fork in the road in the $175,000 Ellis Classic, with who goes onto the Oaks, who heads to Australia, the spelling paddock or drops back in future trips to be decided.
Waikato weather watch
Te Rapa boss Butch Castles doesn’t hold back on the crucial role the weather will play for today’s huge meeting, with rain forecast for today.
Te Rapa started yesterday a soft5, likely to improve to a good4 overnight, and Castles says if the rain comes, it won’t be welcome.
“The track is great and has been irrigated enough that if rain does fall, they should be able to get their toe into it,” he told the Weekend Herald.
“But any time you have rain on the day for a summer meeting, it can see the track cut up a bit, so obviously we’d love to see it stay away.”
It would take an unexpected turn in the weather for the track to get wet enough to affect most of today’s leading chances, all of whom have form on tracks at least rated a soft6.
Probably the most important “watch” for punters will be if rain does come, whether the inside cuts up and loses its natural advantage.
Legends return
As good or even great as Legarto and Crocetti may perform today, they will need to do something special to be the best horses on track.
The three Group races and the new $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic aside, today is also Legends’ Day, with Te Rapa showing respect to some of New Zealand’s special gallopers.
Nine galloping greats will parade and be available for photos and pats before leading each field out for the day. They include Xcellent, The Bostonian, Gingernuts, Sacred Star, Mufhasa, Sir Slick and New Zealandbred Hong Kong stars Werther and Ping Hai Star.
The will be joined by one mare in Seachange, who is still achieving wonderful things, with her unbeaten grandson Storm Boy being sold to Coolmore Stud this week in a deal that could be worth A$60 million if he wins the Golden Slipper and some other major races at two and three.