“I think he’ll get up over 1400m quite easily, because he sits back and relaxes before finding the line strongly. I’m hoping to see him produce a big finish down the straight on Saturday.”
Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe.
Undefeated three-year-old Crocetti confirmed his superstar quality with another scintillating performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 51st New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
All the key indicators point to continued success for The Oaks Stud’s young resident stallion U S Navy Flag, although experience has taught General Manager Rick Williams to never look too far ahead.
As one door has closed at The Oaks Stud with the retirement from commercial duty of farm stalwart Darci Brahma another has remained wide open with U S Navy Flag to return to the Cambridge nursery.
Lightly raced filly Loch Katrine lived up to her breeding when she scampered through the heavy conditions at Pukekohe to break her maiden status in the Lised Staphanos at Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m).
