3 minute read
Michael Walker only had the one ride at Mornington today and he made it count, kicking home Crafty Cruiser to claim the Listed Ansett Classic.
The New Zealand jockey had planned to have today off after riding late at Moonee Valley last night, but jumped at the ride when it became available.
He now has 24 hours to shed to make his riding weight in tomorrow's Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) where he'll partner Bonaria.
Crafty Cruiser carried 54kg to win the Ansett Classic while five-year-old mare Bonaria has just 52kg.
“It's going to be a hard task,” Walker said.
“I was going to have today off obviously I had a late night last night. When the ride became available my manager rang me and I said yeah, I've always wanted to get on the horse, I just thought I'd suit him.”
Walker settled Crafty Cruiser in a beautiful spot, third on the fence and just behind the steady leader Streets Of Seattle.
He loomed up in the straight and put it away 100m from home with hot favourite Surpass running second, and Anagold holding on for third.
“The key to him is he does it that easy so you can't get there too early or he sort of knocks off,” Walker said.
“I went on him and I knew I was going to get there too easy so I sat down again. He's done it really easy.”
Trainer Bryce Stanaway spent just $11,000 on Crafty Cruiser at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2009.
The gelding's Ansett Classic win bumped his prizemoney to almost $400,000.
He said Walker's ride was as he expected.
“Nice to have a Kiwi on and nice to have a bloke on with a heart, I reckon he's a real good horseman and the horse has got a heart too,” Stanaway said.
“He [Crafty Cruiser] is a little bit more than honest, he's been unlucky a few times.
“He could've had another five or six wins by his name very easily.”