CROFT’S CITY ROUGHIE WINNER NO SURPRISE AT ALL

TERRY Croft couldn’t believe it!

The Hawkesbury trainer produced a filly he was confident would run well at Canterbury today irrespective of her price.

As racecaller Darren Flindell so aptly said, it was a close shave at the end of the 2YO Maiden Handicap (1100m) for fillies, but Croft’s Gilette got there in time.

Ridden by Chad Lever, who is enjoying a tremendous season and has partnered the filly in all three starts, $41 chance Gilette edged out a pair of rival debutantes, Long Legs ($21) and Rosa Incanta ($13).

Even better odds were offered about Gilette, who had been placed at her first two starts at Bathurst and Scone (a metropolitan meeting).

“She opened at $71 and got out to $111,” Croft said this evening. “I couldn’t believe those odds.

“Gilette had done nothing wrong at her first two runs, and they were all maidens in today’s race.

“She had led both times previously when beaten by Tom Vegas in the Gold Nugget (1100m) at Bathurst on Anzac Day, and then Cashbook in the $200,000 Inglis Challenge (1100m) at the Scone Cup meeting on May 16.

“Gilette is better taking a sit and Chad was able to do that today.

“It was nice to win another race in town. We have to take them when we can get them.”

Lever settled Gilette in fourth place, began making his run on the home turn and the filly fought right to the line to hold a late-finishing Long Legs and Rosa Incanta in a tense three-way finish.

Croft purchased the daughter of Exceedance for $16,000 at last year’s Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney on behalf of long-time supporter Dave Martyn, who races her with a number of clients, and has always had a nice opinion of her.

However, whilst she has already earned just over $81,000 (including a BOBS bonus), he won’t be pushed into continuing her campaign.

“She is going to the paddock tomorrow,” Croft said.

“Though Gilette is tall, she still has some filling out to do.

“I’m sure we are going to have some fun with her.”

Croft has 18 horses in his Hawkesbury stable, and was back at work when contacted late this afternoon.

“We’re busy feeding up,” he said.

Gilette is the third foal of the Dream Ahead mare Beyond the Dream, whose next foal (a full brother to Croft’s filly) unfortunately died after birth.

Beyond The Dream has since foaled another full brother to Gilette, in October last year.

Incidentally, Gilette was named after the magnificent multi-purpose stadium (spelt Gillette) at Massachussets in the USA, home to the New England Patriots.

. HOOFNOTE: Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees also was a winner today – but at Doomben.

Lees scratched two-year-old Damien from a Royal Randwick engagement last Saturday because of the heavy ground, and sent him to his Gold Coast base.

Ridden by Andrew Mallyon, Damien ($2.60 favorite) took the 2YO Handicap (1200m), making it two victories from only four starts.

Story John Curtis, May 28, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos