New Zealand’s leading sprinter, Crocetti, has officially secured a spot in next month’s Kia-Quokka (1200m) at Ascot, with Trackside NZ/Perth Racing selecting the gelding as their representative in the $5 million feature race.
The four-year-old heads to Western Australia’s richest race with an impressive record of nine wins and three placings from 14 career starts, including two Group 1 victories.
The Zacinto gelding made headlines when he claimed the NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Sistema Railway (1200m) earlier this year, securing the Champion Sprint Series title and earning a $300,000 summer bonus.
Trained by Danny Walker and Arron Tata, Crocetti burst onto the racing scene in 2023 with seven consecutive victories, quickly capturing the hearts of Kiwi racing fans.
Owner and co-breeder Daniel Nakhle said the journey with Crocetti has been nothing short of a dream, and the chance to take his stable star to Perth for the Quokka on April 26 was an easy decision.
“This horse has already provided us with so much fun and excitement in his career,” Nakhle said. “To take it to the next level with this trip to Perth alongside the Trackside NZ and Perth Racing teams is another memorable step along a pretty amazing journey.”
Crocetti’s most recent run came on March 8, where he finished second to three-year-old filly Alabama Lass over 1200m.
Perth Racing CEO James Oldring welcomed Crocetti’s addition to the Quokka field, highlighting the strong interest from New Zealand racing fans.
“We’ve watched the New Zealand racing with interest over the summer, and to get the Champion Sprint Series winner as the Kiwi representative is a fantastic result,” Oldring said. “We saw great wagering results on The Kia Quokka last year in New Zealand through our slot partnership with Trackside NZ, and with a boom sprinter like Crocetti, we expect that Kiwi interest in racing in Perth will continue to grow.”
In Tabtouch futures markets, Crocetti is currently a $15 chance for the Quokka, while Overpass, the only horse to have won the race, is the $2.75 favourite to claim a historic third victory.
