Racing: Hot jockey backs 'super star'

Lisa Cropp

It was almost a silly question.

Baldessarini yesterday remained a hot favourite at $2.50 to win the $120,000 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham today and when a rider of such a horse is asked if they expect to win, the response is often far from definite.

But that was not the case for Lisa Cropp. New Zealand's leading jockey, who has been riding the crest of a wave, was not expecting anything but victory in the group one race.

"Yes I do. Of course," Cropp told NZPA last night. "I don't doubt him at all. I think he's a real super star."

There is no doubt that part of the reason for Cropp's confidence is the confidence she has in her own form.

Cropp has bounded to the head of the national jockeys' premiership and her tally of wins for the season so far stands at 73. In the 3 weeks since Boxing Day she has racked up an amazing 27 wins.

"My eye's in," Cropp said of her run of success.

"I certainly feel very confident out there."

Cropp stunned some racing buffs when last month she declared Baldessarini the best sprinter she had ridden.

At that time Baldessarini had yet to race in open class and among the top sprinters Cropp had previously ridden was proven sprinting star Mr Tiz.

Cropp rode Mr Tiz to win the first of his three Railway Handicaps - New Zealand's other group one 1200m feature. Mr Tiz also won the Telegraph twice but Cropp said it was easier for her to rate Baldessarini higher because of the longer association she's had with the horse.

The 1m10.5s it took for Mr Tiz to win the 1989 Railway was the only time Cropp rode the horse. She has ridden Baldessarini in his last four wins.

"I only rode Mr Tiz for one minute," she said. "It's a bit different when you develop a bit of association with a horse and bring them through the grades."

Baldessarini won the $200,000 Railway Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 1 at his last start and could not have been more impressive after starting from the outside barrier.

The Green Perfume 5-year-old gelding was three wide throughout but Cropp said not even that race required her to ask for the horse's best.

"I've never really popped the question to him," she said.

"I thought I got there a touch quick and that's why I took a hold of him.

"I sort of softened up on him. I think I only gave him two backhanders [with the whip]."

Cropp rode for some years in Macau and she said Baldessarini compared very favourably with one of Macau's best sprinters.

"I rode the best sprinter in Macau. He won about 11 races and Baldessarini is very similar. He's got gears. He can go through a flat spot and then really lets get go again."

Baldessarini has drawn six and is well placed to sit in behind the leaders before Cropp chooses to pounce.

"I don't think he needs to be in front. He can pretty much sit where he sat in the Railway - about fourth or fifth," she said.

Should Baldessarini complete the Railway-Telegraph double he will join a select band who have won both races in the same year.

The others to complete the double are: Bawalaksana (1999), Loader (1996), Mr Tiz (1989 and 1990), Sharivari (1971) and Elabama (1969).

- NZPA