The nine-year-old has become quite the ‘surprise package’ since joining Amber Hoffman’s Waikouaiti Beach stable late last year, winning four of his five starts with her and finishing third in the other.
And it’s not just that he’s stringing together victories – it’s also the way he’s doing it.
At his last start, at Oamaru on Wednesday 21 January, Racey Krusa was nicely one ahead and one back before being left parked for the final lap.
Driver Wilson House made his move on the home turn and the pair left the field in his wake, winning by more than two lengths.
“To his credit, he relaxed so wonderfully,” Hoffman says.
After transferring from Amber Lethaby’s stable at Canterbury, where he took his first three wins, Racey Krusa debuted for his new stable at Invercargill with a victory in November.
“His owners (Bruce Graham) thought a change of scenery would do him good and he enjoys beach life,” says Hoffman, “we do all his fast work on the beach and he also loves being in the lead.”
“That first run we didn’t expect him to win, it was more a matter of putting a line on him.”
However, before that victory, Racey Krusa needed a while to get used to his new environment.
“He’s a cool little guy, but the first two weeks he didn’t eat much and I was almost tempted to send him home, but suddenly he was proven right,” says Hoffman, “and he’s been paired with a little galloper and he’s been a very happy horse ever since.”
“He was a little surprise package, that’s for sure.”
In total, Racey Krusa has now won seven from 80 starts and looks like he will have a great opportunity to surprise again at his “home” meeting.
He will compete in race 12, the O’Connell Family/Murphy Family Waikouaiti Handicap Trot (5.15pm).
Among his rivals are Dark Ghana, who played back-to-back at Blenheim on January 16 and 18, and last-start Riverton winner Kracka Looka.
Racing at Oamaru on Sunday starts at 11.55am.
To see Sunday’s field click here
Through Dave Di Sommafor Harness News Desk
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