GREEN AND CROFT DOUBLE UP

WHEN you’re hot, you’re hot!

Hawkesbury trainers Peter Green and Terry Croft have had a beaut few days, finishing the latter part of the season with a surge.

Green followed his maiden city success with Killer Kerr at Warwick Farm last Wednesday by scoring with Avion Fury at Mudgee today, and Croft doubled up from a home track victory with Tides Turning last Thursday by winning at Wyong yesterday with a resuming Royal Commodore (pictured above).

 Green is the umpteenth trainer of eight-year-old gelding Avion Fury, who landed the Benchmark 66 Handicap (2000m) at Mudgee.

Ridden by Grant Buckley, Avion Fury ($8.50) bolted home to easily defeat Interventionist ($7.50) and fellow Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby’s Will To Excel ($18).

It was rising nine-year-old Avion Fury’s 38^th start and his fourth win – and first for his current trainer.

“Avion Fury has been racing consistently at the provincials, being placed at three of his last four starts,” Green said this evening.

“I was surprised the bookmakers bet $10 given he was dropping back to country grade.

“I was especially pleased to get a win with him for his owner Greg Andison.”

Green says Killer Kerr has come through her Warwick Farm success last week in great style, and is looking to give her a chance to also win a Saturday race in town in a few weeks.

“Whilst she is in the best form of her career, she deserves the opportunity,” he said.

Croft and apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald are proving a great team.

This season’s Rising Star Series winner scored on Tides Turning at Hawkesbury, and also was aboard Royal Commodore ($4.20) in yesterday’s Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).

“Royal Commodore had a big weight (reduced to 59kg with Fitzgerald’s 2kg claim), but he had trialled well and I expected him to run well,” Croft said.

“For a city winner, he was nice odds.

“Mollie is riding in great form, and has a good strike rate on my horses (four wins and four placings from only 14 rides).”

Royal Commodore is putting together a tidy record as well.

He won on the Kensington track over 1000m earlier in the year, and has now won two of his only four starts and been placed in the other two.

Whilst Royal Commodore won’t be heading to Grafton for the July carnival (his trainer says there isn’t a suitable race), Croft is keen to see his unraced half-brother Royal Corporal (by Graff) trial over 1000m at home tomorrow (Monday).

“If he trials well I might take him to Grafton, and also his stablemate Zoutastic, a Wagga Super Maiden winner in January,” Croft said.

Story John Curtis, July 6, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos