Forgotten Kiwi gun La Crique back for winter revenge after Group 1 flop as odds-on favourite

La Crique was a heavily backed odds-on favourite in the Group 1 Empire Rose two years ago and hasn’t been sighted by Australian punters since. That will change on Saturday as she makes her Australian return at Eagle Farm.

Forgotten Kiwi La Crique has had her fair share of troubles, but her trainers believe they could be a thing of the past as they look to make good on a difficult first trip across the Tasman at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Such was the boom on La Crique early in her career, she started a hot odds-on favourite in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington in 2022, where she could only manage to run fourth behind Icebath.

With consistent feet issues, La Crique has been a labour of love for trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander, however she is set for an extended stay Down Under this time around in the search of better weather.

READ | Off to America: John Stewart's Tutta La Vita Oaks shock

“This trip has gone a lot more smoothly for her then when we brought her over to Melbourne the first time,” Katrina Alexander said.

“There has been a very niggly foot problem which has taken a good 12 months to resolve.

“From the time we had an issue with it, it has cost her the best part of a season, she didn’t have a spring and has been a very light prep so far.”

With seven wins in 19 starts, Alexander believes La Crique’s best days are still ahead of her, with the Sydney Cup-winning trainer saying the mare is among the best she has ever trained.

Katrina Alexander had a Melbourne Cup runner in Honour Bay in 2003. Picture: Gregg Porteous.

The Kiwi is a hot $2.30 favourite to win the $500,000 Magic Millions Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm, with her trainers saying it proved to be the perfect kick off point for an Australian campaign.

The Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara in a fortnight could also be on the agenda.

“I have had a Sydney Cup winner in Australia but La Crique is as good as any I have had, when she is right, she is brilliant,” Alexander said.

“I still think she is only just maturing now, we hope there is another season in her yet.

“We believe we have got things right now and there is nothing left at home for her, so we thought we would come over for this part of the winter.

READ| Kiwis' last crack as Molly's new trainer revealed

“It’s a bit later in the carnival, we thought we might catch the earlier part of it, but we made the decision to do something with her now and hold her here for a while, with the possibility of spelling her in Australia.

“We have had enough spring campaigns with her to know the New Zealand climate and forecast doesn’t really suit her, mainly due to the wet track and her feet.

“It’s not racing on the wet tracks, it is getting her prepared on the wet tracks which is a problem. The mile is a very suitable trip for her and it is under weight for age conditions, it was the logical choice.”

Originally published as Forgotten Kiwi gun La Crique back for winter revenge after Group 1 flop as odds-on favourite