Maiden win continues mare's perfect record

BROODMARE gem Aratusa Lass maintained her perfect matron record thanks to Annie Crocker's triumph at Globe Derby yesterday.

A handy pacer which registered 18 wins and 18 placings across three states, Aratusa Lass has eclipsed her racing feats in the breeding barn.

Owned by prominent South Australian industry figure Gary Crocker, Aratusa Lass boasts 10 winners from 10 foals.

Aratusa Lass' stock includes Group One winner Major Crocker, which was retired last season following a successful northern hemisphere career.

The first SA-bred pacer to earn more than $1million, the son of Art Major won 73 races - 43 in North America - with his best time of 1:49.2 registered at Pocono Downs in 2019.

Major Crocker almost matched that in 2023 when he won at  Hoosier Park in 1:49.3 as a 13-year-old!

Aratusa Lass is also the dam of Group Two winner Adam Crocker, Listed Classic winner Innocent Crocker and dual Group One placegetter Eve Crocker.

With her daughters also doing well in the breeding barn, Innocent Crocker has a Somebeachsomewhere colt poised to make his way through the Sydney Sales ring on March 9.

"She has been amazing since the day I bought her," Crocker said. "I only paid $2500 for her and she won her first three races for me.

"She's clearly outdone her racing achievements in the breeding barn and become a phenomenal foundation mare."

As for Annie Crocker, she broke her maiden by rating 2:05.2 over 1800 metres as Backpaddockjack and Nodini filled the placings.

Trained by Ingrid Smith and driven by her husband, David, Annie Crocker had been runner-up during her three previous starts.

"She is a handy mare, but injured a leg when she was young, so will probably never really fulfill her true potential," Crocker said.

"She's run second in seven of her 15 starts, so it was just a matter of time before she finally cracked that win."