His best chance shapes up as four-year-old Ori On Fire, a chestnut gelding that ran in last year’s qualifier at Wellington, finishing fifth behind a class field.

Crockett’s no-fuss gelding has drawn barrier 14 but is more than capable of challenging again after a superb preparation, which included a first-up win at Tamworth and then a victory at Bathurst.

“He’s sort of come into his own,” Crockett told Sky Racing. 

“He ran in last year’s heat and was beaten by a length-and-a-half by some really handy horses and that’s when we probably realised his potential.

“He’s come back this time, he’s been going really well. He’s a straight forward horse, he does his own thing, but when he races he’s a proper race horse.”

Crockett also has Turcotte and Prince of Thebes in the field for the $150,000 heat, which jumps at 4.40pm on Sunday.