3 minute read
Coonabarabran Cup winning combination, trainer Cameron Crockett and champion bush hoop Greg Ryan saddle up together again with Curtain Calls at Bathurst on Friday.
The pair snared the Coonabarabran Cup last Monday with Are You Sure and Mudgee-based Crockett is optimistic five-year-old mare Curtain Calls, a new stable acquisition, can join the winners’ list.
The Charge Forward mare is with her third trainer after beginning her career with Matthew Ellerton in Melbourne then co-trainers Amanda Turner and Mario Poletti.
Curtain Calls tackles the Beech Plumbing Class 2 Handicap over 1400m.
Curtain Calls was purchased as a future broodmare by stud owner Jeremy Cox, whom Crockett spells his horses with.
“Jeremy rang and asked me to have a look at her and said see if you can win a race,” Crockett said. “She was going to go to stud this year but he’s let me keep her in work hoping for a return.
“I’m pretty confident she can win more races.”
When Curtain Calls first arrived at Crockett’s stables, the trainer said she “looked fat and lazy.
“She just wasn’t interested in taking part. Twice she went out to work and couldn’t even run even time.
“She looked miserable, flat and bored with the whole thing.
“But I changed her feed around and played a few tricks with her and she’s completely turned the corner.
“I take her for long walks of an afternoon and work her off the pony.
“She’s improved a heap since I first got her.”
Curtin Calls made her debut for Crockett over 1280m at Muswellbrook on October 21 after winning a Muswellbrook trial with Ryan in the saddle on October 6.
The mare was unlucky not to win finishing 0.8 lengths second to Autumn Nights and was lucky to stay on her feet after a bad check at the 250m mark.
“When she copped the bad check it took the confidence out of her,” Crockett remarked. “She may not have beaten the winner but she would have been in a photo.
“She’s improved again since the run. She’s working as good as any horse in my stable.
“On Tuesday she put in her best gallop since she’s been with me.
“Stepping up to 1400 metres will also help.
“I think she’s a great chance.”