Jericho Cup: Bryce Stanaway plays the long game with Crafty Cruiser

Trainer Bryce Stanaway admits veteran stayer Crafty Cruiser is a “fifty-fifty” chance of lining up in the world’s longest flat race, the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool. But if he does run, watch out.

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Trainer Bryce Stanaway will make a decision on Sunday morning as to whether his warhorse Crafty Cruiser will take his place in the world’s longest flat race, the Jericho Cup (4600m), at Warrnambool.

“I’ve got him to 95 per cent right but he needs to make that extra five per cent of improvement to ensure he’s there. I’d say he’s fifty-fifty,” Stanaway said.

Stanaway said Crafty Cruiser had pulled up a bit scratchy after running on a firm track at Morningtion two starts ago and then last start at Terang he almost fell when he suffered interference with a lap to go.

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Bryce Stanaway’s veteran Crafty Cruiser finished second in last year’s Jericho Cup. Picture: Colleen Petch

“I don’t have to run him. If he doesn’t run I can poke around in easier races with him until he’s retired,” he said.

Last year Crafty Cruiser finished second in the inaugural Jericho Cup to High Mode and if he ran would be the only horse from that race to run today.

“If he runs, he’ll go close to winning,” Stanaway said of the stayer who, if he runs, would be having his 159th start.

Stanaway also has Venture Highway in the Jericho Cup. Venture Highway finished second in the Consolation Race last year to Charlotte Littlefield’s Hello My Friend, who will run in Sunday’s race.
“If the race is run in a genuine fashion, which these staying races haven’t been, he’ll run very well,” Stanaway said.

This year’s Jericho Cup will also feature New Zealand stayer’s Aigne and Where Are You.

JERICHO CUP (4600m)

Race 8, 4.55pm — Warrnambool.

Originally published as Jericho Cup: Bryce Stanaway plays the long game with Crafty Cruiser