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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Cameron Crockett has some unfinished business when it comes to the Newhaven Park Country Championships with last year’s runner-up Commando Hunt but he fears the weather at Tamworth this week may leave it unfinished.

Trainer Cameron Crockett (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Commando Hunt heads a trio from the trainer’s Scone stable in the $150,000 Newhaven Park Hunter & North West Country Championships (1400m) alongside Mr Hussill and Don’tforgetmonica.

The gelding was runner-up in both the Tamworth race and the Final, where he was beaten about a neck by Another One, but the difference in 2023 is the significantly less amount of rain so far and a good track expected on Sunday.

“I think last year we were blessed with bottomless tracks in the heat and the final for Commando Hunt,’’ Crockett said.

“It’s obviously in his form that he’s not as good on a firm track as a bottomless one.

“Tamworth could be the undoing of Mr Hussill, he’s run terrible every time he’s been there.

“But if they run there and build a bit more fitness, and if they don’t qualify, they can come back to Scone and 1400m for the Wild Card.

“I think anyone who qualifies this year can potentially win the Final. There’s no real standout horse.”

Commando Hunt is a $26 chance in TAB’s all-in market on the $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships Final, his stablemates are rated $51 chances, and the Tamworth race will feature the current favourite in Ezekeil ($7).

Crockett is happy enough heading into the Country Championships first-up with the five-year-old who hasn’t raced since The Kosciuszko back in October.

“He missed a trial and had a couple of little setbacks which has been pretty normal for him,’’ he said.

“A couple of things we had to address for the Country Champs Final last year.

“Just looking back on last prep the 1200m is a little sharp for him anyway so I’m not concerned about 1400m around Tamworth. I just hope maybe he draws a better gate than last year and doesn’t have to do as much work.”

Mr Hussill and Don’tforgetmonica ran sixth and seventh respectively in their lead up run, the Preview over 1200m at Tamworth on February 10 won by Two Ya Got.

The former certainly wasn’t disgraced in Crockett’s eyes under a big weight but he has some concern over the mare who isn’t the same horse in her races as she seems to be at home.

“I wasn’t really disappointed with Mr Hussill, he had 63kg so I didn’t really expect him to do much more than he did,’’ he said.

“He’s always having disjointed preparations because he’s not an easy horse at all.

Commando Hunt runs second in the 2022 Country Championships Final

“He’s right up to the mark now and I’m really happy with him. He doesn’t love it too hard but he doesn’t need it bottomless.

“Don’tforgetmonica is a six-year-old mare now and I thought she might keep going but she’s showing a few signs maybe she’s getting towards the end of it.

“Her trackwork has been super, nothing out of place at home. Her last couple of runs and first-up last time were arguably below par for her. She could bob up, she has got the ability.”

First and second qualify for the Final at Royal Randwick on April 1.

All the entries, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Tamworth