After a lengthy stint on the sidelines, Craig is set to take another step forward when he lines up at Sandown on Friday in the Listed Lord Stakes (1600m).
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper spent 12 months away from racing following surgery to remove a bone chip and a subsequent wind operation.
Craig made his return with a serviceable performance at Caulfield last month and now heads into his second run back under the guidance of Craig Williams.
Busuttin said the gelding would take plenty of benefit from that initial outing.
“He was OK first-up but lacked a bit of ringcraft, he was very rusty,” Busuttin said.
“It’s a bit different when you’re fresh up against maidens or class 1 horses, but he’s going well and he’s come on big time from it.
“He had a chip taken out of a joint and then when we got him back, he went in the wind.
“I thought the wind operation had worked, nine out of 10 times they don’t, and he’s still got to go out do it, but Craig (Williams) came back in and said his breathing was fine.
“I was happy when he rang up for the ride, so that tells a bit of the story.
“He can get off and say blah, blah, blah, but him wanting to ride him next time tells you something.”
Williams also partnered Craig in his most recent outing when the gelding finished seventh in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) on November 29.
Busuttin said the gelding had progressed well since that run.
While it remains to be seen whether Craig can return to the level that saw him run second to Antino in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), his trainer remains optimistic.
“He’s run second in a Toorak, albeit beaten a fair way, but he’s Group 1 class,” Busuttin said.
“Now he’s got to come back and show us that after the wind op, but if he was right, and its pie in the sky, but the All-Star Mile and those sorts of races could be on the radar.
“It’s not long now until you’re starting to get ready for those races.
“Best case scenario, he runs well Friday and we then can give him a freshen up for the autumn.”
Early markets for the Lord Stakes can be tracked through the Australian betting sites list.
