By Michael Guerin
Centre Crest could be excused for feeling like a yo-yo.
The Central District flyer is taking a pretty strange path in trying to secure his second major weight-for-age race next month.
Centre Crest will drop back from his gutsy third to Hero in the King's Plate over 1600m on Boxing Day to a 1200m event at Woodville on Saturday, a race he won last season.
But then he will bypass the Telegraph at Trentham, heading to the Thorndon Mile, before dropping back again in distance for the 1400m weight-for-age features at Te Rapa and Otaki.
"I know it looks a little strange but that is just the way his programme has worked out," said trainer Wayne Marshment.
"After a couple of sprint races his best distance really is 1400m, but there aren't many of those around until the Te Rapa race."
While Centre Crest struggles to find the line in a metric mile, Marshment says his owners are keen on the Thorndon Mile.
"And to run in that he needs this race at Woodville on Saturday because he was jumping out of his skin after the King's Plate."
While Centre Crest is regarded as one of the fastest horses in New Zealand, Marshment admits he is unlikely to ever win a leg of the group one sprint double
the Railway and the Telegraph.
He has got so high in the weights now that his future really lies in weight-for-age races.
"That is why the 1400m weight-for-age races at Te Rapa and Otaki are so important to us."
But even if 1400m is his best distance, Centre Crest is expected to win on Saturday.
Horse Racing: Centre Crest takes unorthodox path
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