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Crocetti primed for summer sprints
Dennis Ryan, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • December 1st, 2025 10:56 am
Last season's Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) winner Crocetti is set for another summer of feature sprints | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A sparkling gallop between races at Ellerslie on Saturday has completed Crocetti’s preparation for another round of major summer sprints.
The speedy five-year-old cruised through his 1000m exhibition to the satisfaction of trainers Danny Walker and Arron Tata and regular rider Warren Kennedy.
“They timed him to run 58 seconds and change, which I find hard to believe, but the main thing is the way he did it,” Walker said. “Warren was very happy with him.
“He’s all set for the Concorde (Gr.3, 1200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, and the plan then is to head to Trentham for the Telegraph.”
Crocetti hasn’t raced since his luckless venture to Perth in late April for The Quokka (1200m), when he finished last after being galloped on.
After a long break he returned with an easy trial win at Te Rapa in late September, however plans to resume in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on October 12 were scrapped due to a continuation of wet spring weather.
“With the likelihood of a wet track we just backed off him, but the beauty of this horse is that with one good gallop he’s back up to speed,” Walker said.
“Under the set weight and penalty conditions he gets into the Concorde with 58 kilos, which is a kilo less than what he would carry at weight-for-age, so he’s nicely in.”
All going to plan, Crocetti will then seek to complete unfinished business in the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), for which is the equal $6 favourite with Tomadachi.
After finishing third in last year’s Concorde, Crocetti was set for the Telegraph, scheduled for the first time on the first Saturday in January, however 13mm of overnight rain meant a Soft7 track and he was scratched.
Returning north, his attention then turned to the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m), which he won in a photo-finish from star three-year-old filly Alabama Lass.
“I think the Telegraph is an ideal race for him, a weight-for-age 1200m down the chute, so we’re really looking forward to it,” Walker said.
