In today's Straight Shorts, New Zealand sprinter Crocetti is bound for the $5 million Quokka, another winner for Farnan, Caulfield Guineas hero to stand at Larneuk and Group 1-winning mare Hinged retired.

Crocetti
New Zealand sprinter Crocetti will contest the $5 million Quokka. (Photo: Kenton Wright)

New Zealand sprinter Crocetti lands Quokka slot

Crocetti will carry the hopes of New Zealand’s sprinting ranks as the Trackside NZ/Perth Racing slot runner in the $5 million Quokka.

The winner of nine of his 14 starts, Crocetti’s connections have taken up the challenge offered by Entain New Zealand - the operators of New Zealand’s Trackside television network and the TAB and betcha betting brands.

Crocetti’s invitation to make the longest trek in Australasian racing came after he secured a $300,000 bonus for winning the NZ Champion Sprint Series over the summer months.

Trained by Danny Walker and Arron Tata at Byerley Park near Karaka, Crocetti won his first seven races, before returning to perform at the top level over the summer.

He secured placings in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes and the Group 3 Haunui Farm Kings Plate before showing his brilliance at the perfect time in the Group 1 Sistema Railway.

Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring said Crocetti’s inclusion had the potential to capitalise on encouraging New Zealand betting turnover on WA’s richest race.

"We saw great wagering results on The Quokka last year in New Zealand through our slot partnership with Trackside NZ, and with a boom sprinter like Crocetti, we expect that Kiwi interest in racing in Perth will continue to grow,” Oldring said.

New Zealand turnover on the 2024 edition of the Quokka, with Waitak running in the Trackside Media slot, more than doubled on the inaugural race.

The 2024 Quokka was also the highest turnover race for the day on the New Zealand TAB.

Richly bred 2YO continues Farnan momentum for Kia Ora

The speed influence of his Golden Slipper-winning sire came to the fore as first-starter Farnicle made a winning debut at Randwick.

But co-trainer Adrian Bott, in recognition of Farnicle’s maternal bloodline, says he can’t wait to test Farnicle over more ground.

Whether the well-related colt is given that chance as a two-year-old remains to be seen after Farnicle defied a betting drift to win over an 1100m scamper.

Farnicle is the sixth winner for Kia Ora Stud’s first-season sire Farnan.

He is the first foal out of the New Zealand Oaks winner Jennifer Eccles and Bott said that side of his pedigree augers well for a bright future.

“His class got him through today and we’re really looking forward to seeing him once we can get him over that little bit further and once he sort of really starts to fully mature for us,” Bott said.

“I guess you've always got Queensland as an option. I think anything here in the autumn may just sort of be a little bit too quick for him at this stage.

“So whether we do look to push on that far or as I said, or with knowing the profile, the type of horse that he is and whether we feel the job's done (we might) look to focus on a good break (before) his three-year-old career.”

Jennifer Eccles was an $800,000 Gavelhouse purchase for Kia Ora and Farnicle sold for $600,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Kia Ora remains in his ownership group along with TFI and a large group of Tulloch Lodge stable clients.

Farnan’s progeny includes the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes winner King Of Pop.

In another two-year-old race at Randwick was won by Wootton Bassett filly, Wootton Lass.

Trained by John Sargent, the $375,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Yarraman Park draft, becomes the fifth Australian winner from the first southern hemisphere crop of the Coolmore shuttle stallion.

Caulfield Guineas winner finds Victorian home

Griff, the Group 1-winning son of Trapeze Artist, will stand at Neville Murdoch’s Larneuk Stud in 2025.

A winner of four races and over $2 million in prize money for Ciaron Maher’s stable, he will stand his first season at $9,900 (inc GST).   

 "We could not be more delighted to be welcoming Griff to Larneuk," Murdoch said.

"Horses of his talent and quality are hard to come by and it is very exciting to have a Caulfield Guineas winner calling Larneuk home.

"He is a lovely horse with great scope and a fantastic attitude.”

Latest episode of The Debate with Bren O’Brien and Gareth Hall

Catch up via a podcast on the latest industry news with The Straight founder Bren O’Brien and Giddy Up’s Gareth Hall in their popular SEN Track segment, The Debate.

In this week’s episode, Bren and Gareth revisited the Rosehill issue and discussed how much damage has been caused to the racing industry over the controversial sale proposal.

They also shared their thoughts on the much-maligned Moonee Valley track surface after the William Reid Stakes meeting played heavily towards on-pace runners.

The segment also touched on the races that have held the most wagering interest in Australia during the season.

It’s a topic that The Straight will take a deeper dive into the statistics of this week.

Click below to listen to Wednesday’s episode.

Setback rules Orchestral out of Tancred bid

A minor hoof issue has forced co-trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood to abandon a Tancred Stakes start for Orchestral.

A winner of the Vinery Stakes at Rosehill last year, Orchestral was being set for a return to the scene of that Group 1 victory.

But she was a surprise non-acceptor on Wednesday for Tancred, a race James trained Silent Achiever to win more than a decade ago.

“We were getting her ready for the truck, but she had a slight pulse in her foot,” Wellwood said.

“On further inspection, she had a bit of pain in her heel.

“She’s still sound, but it’s just too big of a risk to be putting her on a plane and incurring all the costs involved for the owners.

“If it was a race in your own country, you may have had her right by

Saturday, but it’s too big of a trip to go with no certainty.”

Vinery Stud renews sponsorship of 3YO fillies Group 1

One of Sydney racing’s longest continuous sponsorships has been extended with Vinery Stud continuing to back an important event for three-year-old fillies.

The Vinery Stud Stakes, a Group 1 middle-distance stepping stone to the ATC Australian Oaks, has been sponsored by the Hunter Valley breeding operation since 2009.

Vinery’s name will be attached to the race registered as the Storm Queen Stakes, for another three years.

“Racing is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re proud to be associated with a race that celebrates the rising stars of our sport who are the lifeblood of the industry,’’ Vinery Stud general manager Peter Orton said.

Yulong filly Treasurethe Moment will be chasing her seventh consecutive win - and second Group 1 success - as an odds-on favourite for trainer Matt Laurie and Golden Slipper-winning jockey Damian Lane in the Vinery at Rosehill on Saturday.

Hinged bows out after lacklustre autumn

Surround Stakes winner Hinged has been retired after three unplaced autumn appearances.

Originally trained in Queensland, Hinged developed into one of the best three-year-old fillies of her year under the guidance of Chris Waller.

A daughter of Worthy Cause, Hinged became a first-crop Group 1 winner for her sire in taking out the 2022 Surround Stakes.

She was also Group 1-placed five times with the most recent of her seven career victories coming in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington during the 2024 Melbourne Cup carnival.

A high-powered syndicate headed by Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir purchased Hinged in a private deal after the filly won five of her first seven starts in Queensland.

Sydney’s leading stable confirmed Hinged’s retirement via its weekly podcast on Wednesday.

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