Patience paying off for Crockett with lightly raced Expellable

As the rain sweeps across Monday's feature meeting at Scone, one locally trained gelding is set to prove that much bigger targets await in 2021.

Lightly raced five-year-old Expellable finally has his first run at home in a competitive benchmark 58 handicap (1100m) to close the card since switching from the Bjorn Baker yard to Cameron Crockett in late autumn last year.

The son of 2014 2YO Magic Millions winner Unencumbered, Expellable made an instant impression winning his maiden first-up at Dubbo in June last year before being spelled but then struck again second-up in a strong benchmark 58 handicap at Mudgee in the New Year.

That quickly led to a start in Highway company at Randwick, but he felt the pressure up front that day and later underwent an extensive veterinary examination.

It meant another long and frustrating stint in the paddock and, after two mid-year trials, Expellable returned with a disappointing run in a class 2 at Dubbo, and the nursing and caring was back on again.

An open trial at Muswellbrook five weeks ago seemingly announced that this talented sprinter was finally over the quirks and setbacks that had held back a career that began two years ago.

Expellable careered away to win by 2.5 lengths in good time, running his last 600m in a slick 33.40 seconds before he resumed at Mudgee and missed by the barest nose in a blanket finish.

He has never raced on a heavy surface but both career wins have come in soft going and, although Unencumbered reached his heights on firm tracks, Expellable's dam is by prolific wet-track sire Exceed And Excel.