By Jack McInerney & Mac Dawson –
How long have you been involved in Racing? Were you born into it?
Born into it, but hated it because I thought it was the reason my parents were never home and never had holidays with us as kids. Turns out it was but that was a good lesson for me in life now that I have a family. Work/Life balance is very difficult in racing but I’ve learnt to manage that through the help of some great staff.
Never wanted a thing to do with horses until I had to do work experience in year 10 and decided to do it at the stables with my parents. My teacher Mr Kempton thought it was a bad idea and that I should get experience i something else incase I didn’t want to continue in that direction later in life.
How long have you been training under your own name?
I started as a hobby on the side with my main income being breaking in all the Gooree yearlings alongside my late father Max. Are You Sure was my first runner first winner on the 5th of June 2011 at Wellington and still the biggest win I’ve seen there. Last to first and haven’t seen it since.
He trialled 5 weeks earlier in dads name although I had been training him under dads name for 12 weeks. The rumour was I hadn’t trained him at all that dad prepared him so that my first runner was a winner.
Where are your stables based? How long have you been based there?
In Scone NSW. We relocated here from Mudgee just over two years ago.
How many workers do you have in your stable? Have some been with you a long time?
I think around 10-12 most have been with me sometime. We have a good system and a good working environment. Jamie-Lee Good was my first member of staff in Scone and has been a big part of our success.
One of the greatest things the YTP team have ever seen on a racetrack was the plunge and subsequent win of SHARPE HUSSLER – ($51 into $15, backed off the map) – What are your memories of that day? Did you back him?
I remember the 48 hours vividly from the time I left home. We stayed at Gerald Ryan’s as we arrived the night before and the horse got off the float like a wounded bull he was spot on. Gerald had him and my pony up stairs in the main barn alongside Trapeze Artist and Menari.
I remember getting ready to goto the races the next day and having trainers remorse as I hadn’t galloped him for a week and the paranoia started setting in that he wouldn’t be fit enough.
Once we arrived on course I was very confident but had an argument via text with my wife because the suit she packed was too small and I hate skinny legs. He wins and we never had a cent on! but someone definitely did, Dr Nick I believe. I’d heard dad speak of him before and never knew he really existed.
After dad died I found a voicemail from him that day believe it or not and it was quite emotional hearing his voice: “your a fucking genius what you did with that horse son”.
He was a very very good horse but it was hard to keep him right. He ran beyond his ability when he was right and it told with his recovery. Good horse love him.
Replay of Sharpe Husslers run can be found here: https://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=Mjg5MzI1MzY4ODA=
We know you were very keen on Chaready last prep, especially his winning performace on your home cup day, any big plans for his future?
I can say he does have a huge prep. I don’t think I ever produced him at 100% last time in so if he comes back and has developed a better constitution he would definitely go on to highway grade possibly a champs horse next year if he overcomes his ailments.
How many runners have you had in Highway Handicaps?
Too many. Probably spent weeks in the car with horses that couldn’t win. I thought I’d take a good galloper there snd get the chocolates unfortunately it just doesn’t work like that. I feel like I have the highways and systems worked out so if I lob there now I am more confident the horses will be competitive.
For the readers and followers of Yeah the Punt and Cameron Crockett, is their a particular young one to keep an eye on for Spring?
Star On Fire, the brother of Are You Sure, Step On Fire and Ori On Fire. He’s a weapon.
Lastly, Mr Hussill – we had reports of some explicit language out of the Crockett household as the crossed the line. Must be a great feeling after all the hard work youve put in?
There’s nothing like it. Didn’t know I had it in me to respond to a win like that but when great things happen sometimes emotion does funny things.
After what the horse had been through it was surreal when he hit the front it was like a dream after so long and so many unfortunate stoppages. I will admit I had a few tears. I was glad the old boy wasn’t there to see me he always hated trainers crying after races and said the only way he would accept me crying after a race was if it was a group 1 and I ran second or lost on protest!
Hahahaha! Thanks for that Cameron, Long Live Sharpe Hussler & its safe to say the future is bright at Cameron Crockett Racing!
Cameron Crockett Racing Website: https://cameroncrockettracing.com.au
Cameron Crockett Racing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cameroncrockettracing/
Cameron Crockett Racing Twitter: @crockett_cam
Yeah The Punt 