CROFT’S TRAVELS TAKE HIM TO BRISBANE THIS WEEKEND

THE Leyland Brothers gained notoriety by “travelling all over the countryside” to film their TV shows.

Whilst the affable Croft isn’t concerned about notoriety, the experienced Hawkesbury trainer is doing plenty of travelling as well with his bonny mare Zoutastic.

So much so that he is on the road again this evening with her, this time bound for Brisbane, and taking along stablemate Royal Commodore.

And Hawkesbury-based jockey Chad Lever, who has ridden at Doomben previously, has agreed to head north and partner the pair.

Zoutastic seeks her third win on end in the Class 3 Plate (1200m) against her own sex, and Royal Commodore tackles a similar race, also against his own sex.

Croft, who last had a runner in Brisbane when Kosmos Candos ran third to

Kovalica in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm in December 2022, has done a superb job with Zoutastic, a four-year-old daughter of Zousain.

He bought her for $5000 at the 2023 Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney, and has won races with her this year at Wagga, Grafton and Forbes.

Whilst her earnings stand at just over $90,000, that doesn’t tell the full story.

Zoutastic, with Lever aboard, earned connections $100,000 when she won one of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series races at Wagga in January.

She has since been successful at the Grafton July carnival in a Class 2 Handicap (1100m), ridden by apprentice Mollie Fitzgrald, and a Benchmark 82 Handicap (1200m), when Lever was back in the saddle, at the Forbes Cup meeting on August 3.

“Zoutastic is a terrific traveller, and she is used to getting in the float and going to all these places,” Croft said this morning.

“She has a bit of weight (60kg), but being a set weights race, has only 3kg above the minimum.

“And she has drawn the rails, so I’m sure she will run well again.

“I decided to take Royal Commodore as well.

“His race has come up a bit stronger than expected, but he won’t be out of place just the same.”

Royal Commodore, a four-year-old son of Sooboog and former Queensland mare Royal Hootennany, has won two of his five starts.

He landed a Kensington Maiden late (1000m) victory in January, and was successful first-up in a Wyong Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) first-up on July 5.

He has since finished eighth at Royal Randwick in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) on July 26, but wasn’t helped by an awkward draw.

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle also has Brisbane runners on Saturday.

Doyle accepted with Overriding (F&M Class 6 Handicap, 1350m), The Extreme Cat (CG&E Class 6 Handicap, 1350m), and Silvanito (CG&E Class 3 Plate, 1200m), but the latter has drawn widely and may not go to Brisbane.

“Both Overriding and The Extreme Cat are definitely going north,” stable spokesman David Dyson said this morning.

“Nathan has been looking for better ground for Overriding’s first run back. She is going well.”

The Extreme Cat rounded up his rivals to easily win a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) on a heavy track at Kembla Grange on August 7.

Apprentice Jace McMurray claims 3kg on Overriding, whilst non-claiming apprentice Bailey Wheeler rides The Extreme Cat.

Story John Curtis, August 14, 2025