3 minute read

Trainer Stephen Crutchley hoped that stable stalwart Fame Star can turn back the clock and get back into the winners’ circle in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1200m on Saturday.

The eight-year-old US-bred gelding last won in the Class 1 race (1200m) on March 19 last year and prior to that, a Kranji Stakes A race (1200m) back in February 2020, suggesting that he does not win out of turn in the last three years.

In his defence, Fame Star  had been racing in very good company, including a crack at the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) won by Lim's Kosciuszko on August 14 last year, albeit he ran unplaced.

However, a solid fourth behind Sky Eye in a Class 1 race over the same trip and surface on January 23 could point to better chances as he drops in class this Saturday.

Crutchley thought that the pride of the Toast Trusts and Shane McDonnell Stable is going as good as he has been since he joined his stable in February last year and while he was concerned about barrier eight, a bold run and win would not surprise the Kiwi conditioner.

"The barrier is not ideal but he will go forward and make his own luck," said Crutchley on Thursday.

"He has such long strides and cruises at such a high speed, so we can't take a sit or he will overrace for sure.

"But (apprentice jockey) Jerlyn (Seow) gets on really well with him and she seems to get him good out of the gates as well. She doesn't fight him either and hopefully, they can cross and lead without using too much petrol early.

"I can't fault the horse at the minute. He was on the bridle at the trial (finished first in trial no. 3 on February 16 in the time of 59.89secs) and his work had been very good. We couldn't be happier with him.
"He had a quiet run on Tuesday morning just to keep his legs stretched and I think he's well placed in this grade with Jerlyn's (three kilos) claims."

On the future for Fame Star, Crutchley reckoned another crack at the Lion City Cup – it would be his fourth run in the iconic sprint - is on the agenda.

"He's getting on in years but his legs and joints are good, so no problem," he explained.

"As I said, he's happy and working really well so he definitely has plenty more to offer and he's shown before that he is competitive in races like the Lion City Cup."

Long known as the premier domestic sprint race, the Lion City Cup will return on August 27 this year as the third and final leg of the new STC Super Sprint Series. Should any horse make a clean sweep of the Series by taking out all three legs, including the Group 3 Kranji Sprint (1200m) on June 3 and Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) on August 6, a bonus prizemoney of $100,000 will be paid out to the winning connections.

On the other hand, Crutchley will also saddle Plus, who makes his race debut for the Toast Trusts and Plus Stable in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1400m on Saturday.

"He's going to be better over the mile but he should be more than competitive first-up over 1400m," said Crutchley of the four-year-old son of Pins.

"His three-quarter brother, Ambitious Dragon, was a star in Hong Kong (voted twice Hong Kong Horse of the Year in the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons).

"His half-brother (Seizing The Moment) also won five races in Hong Kong, so the breeding is good.

"We have taken our time with him (Plus).  He had some left at his last trial (finished first in trial no. 1 on February 16 in the time of 1 min 0.29secs), so he still has something to find but this race looks a good start.

"Whatever he does, he will improve for the run and again, the mile will be his best trip."

Crutchley had a slow start to the 2023 - sending out only 19 runners for two wins (both by Mesmerizing) - but is optimistic going forward with his stable growing in numbers.

"It has been a slow start but Mesmerizing has been great and he can improve again," he said.

"We have 23 in the barn at the moment and more to come, so we should be able to fill the 30 stalls soon.

"Some two-year-olds that we bought at the (Magic Millions) Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale aren't too far away from trialling and a few three-year-olds are ready to make their debuts."