Crockett in blinkered approach for veteran
Too much information can be just as bad as not enough when it comes to young trainer Cameron Crockett trying to get an overdue win out of Are You Sure.
In a belated move, Crockett has put blinkers back on his veteran galloper in the Pluck @ Vinery Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The gear addition is on the recommendation of two jockeys – Jay Ford and Thomas Huet.
“After he raced at Canterbury (three starts back) Thomas Huet was of the opinion he could have won easily but when he got the front he sort of idled along with the horse which ended up third,” Crockett said.
“Thomas said `put blinkers on him’ but I probably know the horse a bit too well.
“If he had only just come into my stable and he did that I would put the blinkers straight on him.
“I had it in the back of my mind that he over-raced in blinkers the last time he raced in them and I didn’t want it to happen again.”
But when Ford had the same story tell as Huet after Are You Sure was beaten in the Gooree Cup at Mudgee, Crockett knew it was time for action.
“After Mudgee I was kicking myself I didn’t put the blinkers on for that race,” Crockett said.
Are You Sure hasn’t won since capturing the 2014 Coonabarabran Cup, but the eight-year-old has consistently figured in the placings.
“Even if he still continued to do everything but win, you’d still take him over a lot of other horses in your stable,” Crockett said.
Are You Sure is an $8 chance to add another Canterbury win to his only previous city success two years ago.
“He likes the track, he likes the distance at the track and all we can hope for is that he decides he likes the winning post,” Crockett said.
Ford keeps the Are You Sure ride ahead of his best chance to win a Group One race since his association with legendary sprinter Takeover Target.
He will be out to break a drought at racing’s elite level when he rides early favourite Fell Swoop in the BTC Cup at Doomben on Saturday.