3 minute read
Trainer Barry Lockwood is hoping Cruze can make a quick return to the winner’s stall when the gelding starts in the Open Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday.
Cruze registered his first win in 20 months when successful over 1350 metres at Doomben on August 18.
It was his first victory since claiming a 1400-metre Class 6 at Eagle Farm in December, 2019.
After beating Gosford sprinter Catesby two starts back, Cruze was then a fading eighth, beaten less than three lengths by the Chris Anderson-trained Ballistic Boy at Doomben 10 days later.
Catesby - a Michael Hellyer mount – will again oppose Cruze along with the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained pair Peppi La Few and Great Keppell in the Open company field of six starters over 1350 metres.
"They were too good for him last start but he went from a midweek Open company race to Saturday company but only got beaten about three lengths," Lockwood said.
Cruze experienced a horror run of outs last year before breaking the drought at Doomben two starts back.
"He had a wind problem and had surgery to remove a cyst growing on his wind pipe," Lockwood said.
"It's a reasonably common problem in horses."
Apprentice Wendy Peel has ridden Cruze at his past two starts but has forfeited the mount to Jimmy Orman.
"I booked Jim early as he only had 56.5kgs when the weights came out," Lockwood said.
"But when the topweight Flash Aah didn't accept the weights went up 1.5kgs.
"Jimmy is riding him but I would have considered claiming again had we known the weights would go up."
Lockwood rates Catesby as a significant danger again along with the Edmonds pair, Peppi La Few and Great Keppell.
"We beat Catesby at Doomben two runs back and he made the form out of the race look good by winning at Doomben at his last start," Lockwood said.
Peppi La Few will be striving to break a frustrating run of three consecutive seconds including his latest placing in a Benchmark race over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on August 14.
Great Keppell is second up after resuming with a battling sixth behind Rebel Salute in a 1200-metre Class 5 at Doomben last month.
