Trainer Jeremy Gask is hoping his talented three-year-old Crop Duster can live it to his hopes at Bathurst on Monday.
Trainer Jeremy Gask is naturally thrilled to have the horse back in the hanger given the promise and talent on display early on.
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Crop Duster was able to post back-to-back wins at Wellington and Coffs Harbour respectively before an honourable ninth in a capacity Highway at Rosehill on August 27.
The son of Kentucky-born, French stakes-winning The Brothers War hasn’t been seen on raceday since his uncharacteristically poor performance at Scone on January 27.
“A few days later, he had an abscess start to form and it is possible that he was feeling something back then but it just didn’t come to light until afterwards,’’ Gask explained.
“The Country Championships was definitely something that was on our radar last prep and had he not had the setback that was something that we had ear-marked.’’
Crop Duster’s presence adds considerable interest to an unusually strong Class 2 Handicap at Bathurst on Monday over 1100m.
Trainer Jeremy Gask. Picture: Mike Burton
Gask’s gelding finished last of six in a recent trial at Gosford but pleased both his trainer and jockey, Grant Buckley.
“There was a vast spread of ratings among those horses but he did all we asked him to do,’’ Gask said. ‘’I just wanted him to go out there and make sure that he felt good which we achieved.’’
Crop Duster is almost guaranteed a fast-pace in Monday’s Country Boosted affair which could play to his barnstorming nature.
“It’s something that he doesn’t always have to do but it just seems that that’s the way he prefers to race,’’ Gask told The Daily Telegraph.
“One thing I have found is that he is a very professional and honest little horse which goes a long way.’’
Crop Duster won’t be flying solo on the trip from Scone to Bathurst with Croatian Madame and Newfangled Jill facing off in the Erins Quality Handicap (1800m).
Croatian Madame has won 1 from 24, Newfangled Jill 1 out of 21 but giving away head-starts all the time hasn’t aided their cause.
“You could go through a dozen of her races where Croatian Madame has looked unlucky. I guess sometimes these horses can make their own bad luck a little bit but that’s the way both of them like to race,’’ Gask said.