Trainer expecting bold runs from ex-northerners

Danny Crozier is expecting two former North Islanders to make their mark for him at Oamaru on Thursday.

The Riccarton trainer has welcomed Mr Conductor and Radiant to his yard with the former a two-win horse who also finished fourth in the Listed Castletown Stakes as a two-year-old.

“He came down a couple of months ago and he’s only had the nine starts so he should do well,” Crozier said.

“It’s quite hard to get a line on him as he’s such a laid back customer, but he’s fit.”

Mr Conductor hasn’t raced since July and he will make his southern debut in the North Star Motel Restaurant and Bar 1200. He will be ridden by Michael McNab.

“He’s got the draw and the jockey and while he’s got a bit of weight (60kg), he’s a lovely cut of a horse and I’d like to think he’d be very hard to beat,” Crozier said.

New stablemate Radiant has been lightly-tried and she picked up placings last season at Otaki and Awapuni from her four appearances.

She will be ridden in the Wingatui Melbourne Cup Day Maiden by Rafi Firdhaus, who has recently arrived from Singapore to continue his apprenticeship with Andrew Carston.

“She’s a lovely mare and the progeny of Nom du Jeu need a bit of time, but she should sprint well fresh,” Crozier said.

He is also keen on the chances in the Gordon Handy Machinery Ltd Handicap of Lifesahighway, who broke her maiden at her last appearance.

“She should have won a couple by now, she’s had a bit of bad luck,” Crozier said. “The penny’s dropped with her and she was quite strong at Timaru the other day.”

McNab has also been booked for the Road To Rock five-year-old.