Star aligning for Crocetti’s shot at our elite sprinting double
Michael Guerin • January 2nd, 2026 9:06 AM • 4 min read
Trainer Danny Walker thinks he can just about tick the last box required for Crocetti to win tomorrow’s $550,000 TAB Telegraph.
The Group 1 sprint has attracted a deep field for what is often the quickest 1200m dash for cash in the country, but Crocetti heads there having not raced since finishing last in the Quokka in Perth in April.
The big, bold chestnut isn’t the first visitor to find Perth not to his liking but his form here in the previous 18 months was outstanding, from winning the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton to the Railway at Ellerslie last January.
While Crocetti heads into tomorrow’s race fresh, Walker, who trains him in partnership with Arron Tata, is adamant his lack of recent racing won’t be an issue.
“He is as good as we can get him.”
“He would be at least as good as when he won the Railway last season and his work on Tuesday was superb.
“So a lack of fitness won’t be an excuse.”
Neither will his draw as Crocetti has drawn neutrally at barrier 9, meaning jockey Warren Kennedy has the option to head forward and plot a path toward the running rail if the track is dry or skirt wider if it gets wetter and the inside starts to cut up.
Those options are not shared by many of his favoured rivals, with defending champion Grail Seeker drawn barrier 3, while favourite Tomodachi (barrier 15) and Platinum Attack (16) probably have to come down the outside and hope those nearer the rail don’t get too much of a break on them.
So with fitness, his barrier draw and being suited by the weight-for-age scale all ticked, Walker only has one concern about seeing the best of Crocetti tomorrow and that is starting to fade.
The big boy saves his best for tracks between a Good 3 and Soft 6, with anything wetter not suiting his long stride.
Earlier in the week, the Trentham forecast suggested there could be serious rain falling, which could have seen a repeat of last season when Crocetti went all the way to Trentham but was scratched on race morning because of an expected wet track, which didn’t turn out as bad as suggested.
“We have been watching the forecast closely and it doesn’t look like it will be that bad,” Walker said. “As long as it is in the soft range and there is no rain on the day we will be happy.”
Crocett is favoured by almost every aspect of the Telegraph but he is $7 for a reason as there are several who could win the great race without surprising, and James McDonald coming to partner Tomodachi as his only ride at the meeting is certain to grab punters’ attention.
She is a high-class mare who will probably have to be ridden wider with cover, but she is explosive and could blow them away.
Tomodachi also has the added bonus of being able to handle any track conditions, having won even on a heavy surface.
Grail Seeker can win even though her form line isn’t the best because she has looked a healthy and happy horse in recent trials, while any one of Platinum Attack (the firmer the better), Navigator, Master Fay, Tardelli, First Five or Ardalio could prevail without surprising.
Big Saturday includes the meetings from Trentham and Te Aroha. Race highlights are the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph and the Gr.2 Levin Classic on the Champagne turf. Tune in on Trackside 1 or trackside.co.nz from 11:00am
This article also appears in the NZ Herald. Click here to read the article there
