By Craig Kerry
Bricklayer-turned-trainer Geoff Crothers has been questioned before about why he is taking veteran country galloper Who But Roo to race in Sydney.
Before this week’s shot at the $300,000 group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, against Chris Waller’s 2025 Everest trio of Joliestar, Lady Shenandoah and Angel Capital, stewards have been the ones asking the question.
Who But Roo leads the Bega Sprint at the Sapphire Coast on February 1. Credit: Jeff Hanson/Dusty Hooves Media
“I’ve had a lot of hassle through the stewards, questioning me, ‘do you really think Mr Crothers you should be taking this horse to town?’” the Goulburn trainer recalled.
“And I said, ‘you tell me where I can put them with a benchmark of 80 something, it’s hard to find races for them in the country’.
“They said ‘maybe you should try to win some more races in the country’.
“I did that, so I thought we’ll give it a go.”
There have been no calls from the stewards this week.
Eight-year-old Who But Roo, with highlight wins in the $50,000 Gundagai Tuckerbox and Moruya Town Plate to his name, stands out from a small crowd of six runners in the Expressway.
A $13,000 buy for owner Mark Vallender three years ago, Who But Roo has since won close to $130,000, taking his career tally past $200,000 with eight wins in 33 starts. His best in town was third in a Hawkesbury Highway.
Waller’s triple threat have earned a combined $11.6 million.
Angel Capital ($3.90 TAB), marked as a group 1 winner-in-waiting, was a $400,000 yearling and now a stallion prospect for racing powerhouse Yulong. Joliestar ($2.60), a three-time group 1 champion and winner of more than $6.5 million, was a $950,000 buy for Cambridge Stud. Lady Shenandoah ($3.60), with three group 1s and $3.3 million in prize money, was a $525,000 buy for Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
Rounding out Saturday’s field is Joe Pride-trained Coal Crusher ($15), a winner of $2.8 million, and Bjorn Baker’s Caballus ($4.80), a $315,000 tried-horse buy for Darby Racing closing in on $1 million earned.
Who But Roo came to Crothers after meeting Vallender a million miles away from the high-flying circles of his rivals.
“I met him a few years ago when I was working at the chook farm doing maintenance, and he was putting in locks. We just got talking,” Crothers said.
“He just asked if I wanted to train his horse, and I said I didn’t want to get into training for anyone else. I’ve been burnt before by owners not paying, so I just had three or four myself, but I thought I’d give him a go.
“He’s done really well for Mark and he enjoys it because he’s a strapper now as well. He likes to be a part of it.”
Winona Costin, who had a winning double last Saturday at Randwick, rides Who But Roo. Crothers, 55, started riding trackwork as a schoolboy with Costin’s father, John Calvert, who was manager for Warwick Farm trainer Ron Leemon. He moved into training 10 years ago, and also spent a decade as a bricklayer.
Jockey Winona Costin after her win on Agrarian Girl in the Lonhro Plate last week at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
It cost connections $1765 to race in the Expressway, and they are guaranteed at least $4000 in return, given the six-horse field, but Crothers said “I don’t think it’s all about that”.
“He’s at his peak and how many chances do you get to race in those sorts of races, a small-time trainer like me?” he said.
“I’ve only got 12 horses in work and it doesn’t come around every day.
“I might end up with mud on my face, but he’ll be competitive, I know that.
“It will be exciting anyway to see how he goes.”
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