Filly crafts Taj Rossi Series win

Saturday 12 July 2014, 1:57pm

Trainer Robert Smerdon has flagged a big future for Qatar Bloodstock in Australia and has played a small part to ensure his prophecy comes true by preparing Crafty to win at Flemington.

Smerdon first made the statement after preparing the operation's inaugural city winner at Sandown last month and the Caulfield horseman has now provided the team with a stakes success Saturday's Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington.

Punters showed little interest in Crafty, allowing her to drift from $10 to $15, but backed Zebulon from $4 to start the $3.60 favourite while Allergic also firmed from $8 into $6.50.

Zebulon had little luck, facing the breeze throughout the race but had the cheek to hit the front 100 metres from the line before the first two placegetters, Crafty and Triple Gold, swamped him late.

"He had his chance but he felt like he might have felt his shins and might need a freshen up," Zebulon's jockey Glen Boss said.

Mark Zahra guided Crafty to victory in his first week back from his annual trip to Mexico.

Zahra said the two-year-old finished the race strongly while he still hadn't caught his breath five minutes after he weighed in.

"I think she'll improve as she gets over further. She's got a great temperament and she switches off and hits the line," Zahra said.

"I think going to 2000 (metres) wouldn't be a problem and if she can run 2000 as a three-year-old they can usually run in the Oaks."

Zebulon's co-trainer Peter Morgan said the colt's defeat would not prompt him to change his plans to run the rising three-year-old in the Caulfield Guineas in the spring.

– AAP

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