Simon and Katrina Alexander are hopeful the best of La Crique's season is yet to come, with the Group One winner heading south on Saturday to tackle the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki.
A daughter of Vadamos, La Crique resumed after a muddled spring campaign with a solid fourth-placed effort in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) on Karaka Millions Night last month, a run that gave the husband-and-wife training partnership confidence to target the Central Districts feature.
“I'm very pleased with how she came through that run, it was fresh-up for her whereas a lot of the other horses were having more of a grand finale,” Katrina Alexander said.
“I was very happy with how she found the line, it was all that we needed to see from her to make sure we're on the right track.”
Despite several campaigns hindered by heavy tracks and soundness issues, La Crique's record boasts multiple victories and placings at Group level, topped by an outstanding performance to claim last season's Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m).
The mare was a gallant second behind the now retired Levante in last year's edition of the Otaki WFA Classic, but Alexander is looking forward to stepping her up over further ground.
“She's trained on super from the Westbury Classic and I believe we're getting closer to the horse we know,” she said.
“Having said that, she's a lot more mature now, she's wanting the distance as opposed to be brilliant over the shorter distances, so it'll be another progressive run for her. But we're more than happy to be sending her to Otaki and seeing what she can do.”
La Crique has formed a successful partnership with in-form hoop Craig Grylls, who has been in the saddle in 10 of her 17 career starts, but with his commitments to last start Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner Puntura, Matt Cameron will take the ride.
“Matt Cameron will ride her this time, Gryllsy understandably had to make a decision and Robbie's team is very much in form at the moment,” Alexander said.
“We're thrilled to have Matt on, and he seems to be very happy to take the ride. It'll be interesting to see her with someone else on, it's been a while since she's had a change, so it'll be good going forward to see how she behaves under a new jockey as well.”