SUNDAY: June 23, 2024: HAWKESBURY trainer Terry Croft brought off a Newcastle plunge yesterday – but admitted to surprise bout the extent of it.
Croft underlined his skill by scoring first-up over 1400m at Newcastle with well-backed Gallic Fox ($4.40) in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap.
The long-standing Hawkesbury trainer’s Gallic Fox, backed from double figure odds, finished close to the outside fence (the inside rail was out 11m) on a track downgraded several races earlier to a ‘Heavy 8’.
Ridden by Scone apprentice Braith Nock and having his first start since late February, the four-year-old edged out Newcastle’s Rapt ($3.30 favorite) and Wyong’s Let’s Go Johnny ($21).
“Gallic Fox likes the wet, and I was confident he was ready to run well,” Croft said today.
“But I surprised there was that much backing for him.
“I went through all the programs in the RacingNSW calendar, and sorted this race out as being the most suitable.”
Croft, who won his sixth race of the season and has 15 horses in work, prepared Gallic Fox for a first-up tilt on the back of 1000m barrier trial (won by last Wednesday’s first-up Canterbury winner Iron Man) at home on June 3.
He purchased the son of Foxwedge for $15,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic yearling sale, and the gelding’s Newcastle victory boosted his earnings to just over $80,000.
Gallic Fox’s previous win was also at 1400m in a 3YO Maiden at home 12 months ago, and he has been placed on five occasions.
Croft took advantage of Nock’s provincial claim, and is suitably impressed with the young jockey.
“Braith rode Just A Brother for me a couple of times at Wyong and Hawkesbury earlier in the year,” he said.
“He is a good rider, and does exactly what you ask him to do.”
. Croft’s victory with Gallic Fox brought to 170 the number of winners for the Hawkesbury training base so far this season.