God Of Eros was never intended to be a long-term member of Shane Crawford’s stable, but the Cambridge horseman isn’t dwelling on the unexpected outcome.
Originally purchased as a trade horse, he will attempt to complete consecutive wins when he runs in Friday’s Trigg Construction Northland Cup (2200m) at Ruakaka on Friday.
“He’s a typical Pierro and they take little bit of extra time and if you give them that you get rewarded,” Crawford said.
“He’s lightly raced, he’s only had nine starts, and I’ve been dying to get him up to 2200m and beyond.
“I was tempted to put in a late nomination for the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m), but bypassed that and might look at it next year if he shows form over the staying trips.”
God Of Eros was originally secured for A$140,000 by Crawford’s Regal Farm, McKeever Bloodstock and Tenglong at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale with the aim of re-offering him at auction in Australia. He was also entered in the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
“He had a bit of an issue and that’s why we couldn’t sell him, hence we’re racing him,” Crawford said.
“He was meant to go to Sydney for the Ready to Race two-year-old sale, but he had lesions on his scope. We had to treat that, but it didn’t clear up in time.
“His function is fine and he breathes well, it was more of a cosmetic thing and it prevented us from selling him.
“He won his first trial but we couldn’t get any bites so we got stuck with him, but it’s not the worst thing.”
God Of Eros has subsequently been handled patiently and he broke his maiden at Ruakaka earlier this year and doubled his tally when he posted an upset resuming victory over 1600m at Tauranga last month.
“I had him pretty well-tuned up for that and it didn’t surprise me at all,” Crawford said.
“I think he is a better horse on the fresh side and everything went to plan that day and he’s ready to crack on.
“I’m really happy with him and he’s the sort of horse that appreciates his races spaced.
“We’ll take it one race at a time with him and we won’t plan too far ahead. He definitely likes the better tracks and while they are around, we will keep going.”
Crawford also has the promising son Wallen in his stable and the son of Tarzino has a win and four placings from his six appearances, a record that would read better had luck been more on the four-year-old’s side.
Wallen made late ground from the back to finish a last-start fifth at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day.
“He went awesome, but the track tripped him up a bit and he was only a length off the winner,” Crawford said.
“We were hoping to head to Wellington for the Remutaka Classic ($350,000, 2100m), but I don’t think he will get in with his rating and that’s a real shame.
“We’ll see what we do now, we might freshen him up and look at the Auckland Cup meeting.”