Racing: Ensuring Crusoe not stranded by distance

Trainer Richard Collett says this race will decide whether Crusoe presses on towards the $600,000 Mercedes Derby, or is freshened for the shorter 3-year-old races.

Gritty filly Pulcinella has recovered well from the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton and is the clear danger.

There is a $70,000 prize waiting at the winning post for the winner of tomorrow's Avondale Guineas.

But if the favourite Crusoe wins the SkyCity-sponsored group two race, trainer Richard Collett will be as interested in the final 10 strides the classy 3-year-old takes as in the winner's cheque.

With the $600,000 Mercedes Derby in March in mind, Collett has been desperate to know if Crusoe will successfully race beyond the 1600m of tomorrow's race.

Crusoe has already had two 1600m races, including the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton, but Collett expects to get the definitive answer to possible staying potential this time.

Overall, Collett was not greatly disappointed in Crusoe's third in the $300,000 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.

"He was beaten by Darci Brahma, which was to be expected, but to be fair to him he covered a bit of extra ground on the home bend. But I still thought perhaps he could have found the line a little better."

Collett says while he has his own suspicions on whether Crusoe will manage a distance beyond 1600m, he admits he doesn't really know and the $600,000 is such a big prize it's worth giving Crusoe every opportunity.

"He has enough stamina on his dam's side to say he'll run 2000m and if they can run 2000m as a 3-year-old they generally get the 2400m against their own age.

"He's been a slow-maturing horse - slow to strengthen.

"On the training track it's quite obvious he's got a short, electric sprint and then he can sustain momentum."

Understandably, Crusoe lightened with his trip back from Christchurch and Collett said he had put the weight back on.

There is not a great deal of depth in the opposition tomorrow and on his best form Crusoe should win.

The danger should be Cambridge-trained filly Pulcinella.

She did well to be only 2.25 lengths from Seachange at the end of the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton and is a filly that should be still on the up.

Trainer Don Sellwood says he can see no outward signs of the trip to Christchurch having an adverse effect on Pulcinella.

"She had a week at Ascot Farm when she came back and she's freshened nicely.

"She'll have this one then take on the Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie then we'll work it from that point."

Pulcinella can find the line strongly and that will be important tomorrow.

The others don't have the experience at the same level, although Joyful Life tackled the group one Levin Classic and finished a close fourth to Wahid.

His previous winning effort was only in maiden class at Tauranga, but it showed Joyful Life to be a horse of real potential.

Laughing Stock won a Te Awamutu maiden at long odds, but that is not an accurate picture of the type of horse he is.

He should be still improving.