Trainer more frustrated than elated despite win
LAST night's Globe Derby success has veteran horseman Alan Cronin feeling more frustrated than elated.
Sure he is happy to see his promising pacer Hezrockinroyalty emerge triumphant, but as far as Cronin's main aim with the son of Rock N Roll Heaven is concerned, the win achieved nothing.
Cronin has set his sights on the country cups with Hezrockinroyalty, but the conditions of the provincial features all but rule the four-year-old out of contention.
Although Hezrockinroyalty is considered a rising star making his way through the grades, the fact he lacks experience against open company poses a problem.
"I would like to go in the Cups with him, but the clause that the horses have to have already been in a 75 or better front race, which he hasn't done yet, pretty much rules him out," Cronin said.
"The clause says preference is given to a pacer which has won in that grade in its last eight starts or at least run in the top three.
"I would have thought a nice four-year-old which is up and coming is the kind they'd want to see in those races, but an old claimer which may have run third in a fast class race in Port Pirie gets in before him.
"I am banging my head against the wall at the moment with that...it is pretty disappointing, and as such, I don't know where he goes next.
"I didn't want to, but I will be forced to run him in a 75 or better over 1800 next week and hope he runs third or better even though that still won't guarantee a start in the next Cup.
"The Victor Harbor Cup in a few weeks is the plan, but he may not even get a run because of that clause and I can't get my head around it.
"The reality is I may struggle to find a race for him over here because of this!"
Driven by Ryan Hryhorec during his latest victory, Hezrockinroyalty completed a soft four-and-a-half metre win from Clarenden Express, with Franco Landry two-and-a-half metres away third.
Rating 1:56.7 over 1800 metres, Hezrockinroyalty's time was five seconds quicker than his stablemate Royal Watch later on the card.
Also driven by Hryhorec, Royal Watch led throughout from barrier four to account for Alice And Free and Ideal Melody to provide Cronin with his first Saturday night double.
"That is my first Saturday night double, so I am pretty happy with that," Cronin said. "I've only got two in work, so the whole stable are last start winners...you can't be any more in-form than that."
