Rod Craig will take a five-strong team to Canterbury on Wednesday, a place dear to the trainer's heart and one he hopes to be able to visit for many years to come.Craig was the last Canterbury based trainer to prepare a Group One winner from the track when Lady Eclipse won the 1983 Champagne Stakes.Since then much has happened with the track closed as a training centre and its future now in question with the sale of the complex among the options put forward by the Ernst & Young report into a pos
Rod Craig will take a five-strong team to Canterbury on Wednesday, a place dear to the trainer's heart and one he hopes to be able to visit for many years to come.
Craig was the last Canterbury based trainer to prepare a Group One winner from the track when Lady Eclipse won the 1983 Champagne Stakes.
Since then much has happened with the track closed as a training centre and its future now in question with the sale of the complex among the options put forward by the Ernst & Young report into a possible merger of Sydney's two race clubs.
Canterbury hosts most of the city's midweek meetings and Craig, who is based at Warwick Farm, is among those horrified at the thought it might be lost.
"It would be a great shame if Canterbury was sold," Craig said.
"We need more tracks in Sydney not less.
"I've had a lot of success there and hopefully it continues tomorrow."
Heading the contingent is last-start Canterbury winner Velocity Gal who steps up to 1900 metres in the Racing's Night of Champions from her 1550m victory on July 1.
"It's another step up for her but I thought she covered about 1700 metres the other day so it should suit," Craig said.
"She has done very well and I think she can handle it."
Circle Of Fame, who also runs over 1900 metres in the theraces.com.au Handicap, was a close second to Toulon Bay in a similar race at Canterbury in June 25.
"He probably got to the front too early last time and it cost him," Craig said.
Circle Of Fame will have the benefit of Kody Nestor's three kilogram claim to help offset his 59kg.
Harford Street is resuming in the Night Of Champions (1100m) as is two-year-old Solatus in the Canterbury Park Event Centre (1250m) while Cloudygaze goes into the Expo24-26/7 Handicap (1250m) off a third at the June 25 meeting.
A daughter of Craig's former star galloper Intergaze, Cloudygaze will be ridden by Corey Brown who has assured stewards he will be fit to ride after falling ill at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
"I'm very happy with all my horses going to Canterbury and I'm very happy to be taking them to Canterbury," Craig said.