Pure Fuego has what it takes to make it to the Qualifier

Cameron Crockett-trained gelding Pure Fuego will earn himself a crack at the Country Championships Qualifier at Tamworth on March 7 if he can fulfil his trainer’s expectations at Muswellbrook on Monday.

The Darby Bloodstock four-year-old has only raced four times but with two wins and a potential third on the way, he is making his own case for a long range tilt at the $500,000 final set down for April 3 at Royal Randwick.

“Because he has been such an immature horse and a bit behind the eight-ball, I have never really wanted to put any plans in place to put the horse or myself under any pressure of Country Championships, but if he comes out on Monday and wins and wins well, I think the timing is right and the horse has probably proved himself at the right time, that he can head in that direction on March 7,’’ Crockett says.

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Christian Reith has been in excellent form.Source:AAP

“But he has got to go and do it again (today), but I have no doubt that he will.’’

If Pure Fuego does what is required at Muswellbrook, he gives Crockett a potential third candidate for the Tamworth Qualifier.

“My main seed will be Midsummer Rain,’’ the trainer said.

“I don’t like to go off too early, I have had a couple of handy horses, but potentially she might be the best I have had.’’

Crockett is also hoping that circumstances come together to allow Saturday’s Highway placegetter, Commando Hunt, his opportunity to contest the $150,000 qualifying heat at Tamworth.

As for more pressing matters, the stars do seem to have aligned for Pure Fuego, the son of Bullet Train, aka Frankel’s three-quarter-brother.

Pure Fuego has drawn well and has the services of one of the form jockeys in the entire state, namely Christian Reith.

On top of that, the Scone-housed gelding is no stranger to Muswellbrook despite having never raced there.

“He has done a lot of work at Muswellbrook,’’ Crockett explained.

“He has had three or four of trials there.

“To be honest, the way he is going and the way he has strengthened-up, I would love to own whatever beats him put it that way.’’

Crockett’s other runner at Muswellbrook is the well-bred Santa Margherita who races in the red. and white colours of Kim Harding.

The daughter of Duporth’s only win so far was at Muswellbrook in August; the same venue where she resumed with a close-up fourth on January 7.

“Her run was super,’’ Crockett said.

“She had a long break between runs before that race and if you do her form, on a wet track at Muswellbrook, she grows a leg.

“I think the 1450m will suit her and she has come right back ‘on’, I think she is probably as good as she was when she won now which she hadn’t been for a while.’’

Gayna Williams has plenty of confidence in Chevconi.Source:Getty Images

BATHURST PREVIEW

Williams ‘excited’ about big prospects for her big gelding

He is a big horse with a big future.

Hulking Nicconi gelding Chevconi has only raced twice before Monday’s return to racing at home at Bathurst, but has already done enough to stamp himself as the proverbial ’Country Championships horse’.

“I am pretty excited about his prospects actually,’’ trainer Gayna Williams said.

“He is an up and coming horse and is very progressive and I think there is a lot of upside to him.

“He will need to win (on Monday) to secure a run in the Country Championship Heat at Mudgee on the 28th. Because of the number of horses that will nominate, he needs an increase in his benchmark rating to be able to secure a run because he is actually only a class one horse.’’

That is before Monday, of course.

Chevconi is not just big on talent, he is taller than the average horse.

“He is huge,’’ Williams said.

“We haven’t officially measured him – which we will do – but he would be about 16.3 (hands) I think.

“He is a big horse but he is not a big clumper as we term it, he is very athletic and quite agile and good on his feet.

“Probably the best thing for him is the fact that we have had a bit of rain here and he does like the softer going.’’

Chevconi cuts an awesome figure on full flight, the two most obvious aspects are his fluent action and his customary nose-roll.

Grant Buckley will be riding Chevconi.Source:News Corp Australia

“When he first came here he just used to stargaze quite a bit and we tried blinkers and winkers and a nose-roll and the nose-roll had the best result,’’ Williams explained.

“He just seems to concentrate and focus more with the nose-roll.’’

Williams has another of her lightly-raced brigade on show at Bathurst namely From The Bush who faces off with stablemate Bad Boy For Love in the Class 4 sprint over 1208m.

“Both of them will certainly appreciate the soft going,’’ she says.

“From The Bush is first-up, 1200m is not ideal for him but we are hoping he will be able to get a run in the Championships as well.

“Bad Boy For Love doesn’t seem to find a lot of luck in his races but he is a good chance again.”

Originally published asMuswellbrook preview: Big plans for firing Fuego

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