Fresh off guiding Collingwood to a thrilling qualifying final win over Adelaide on Thursday night, premiership coach Craig McRae is poised for a significant September, both on the football field and at the racetrack. McRae, who part-owns the Group 1 winner Feroce, recently spent a morning with horse trainer Dom Sutton and their star galloper, drawing insightful parallels between preparing elite footballers and thoroughbreds.
“We celebrated together with a dinner after the Australian Guineas, and I was just fascinated with the stuff that [Dom] is doing around sports science,” McRae shared. “When you’re in high performance, you’re looking for every little growth opportunity, and Dom is certainly doing that, and we’re trying to do the same in our sport.”
Shared Strategies in Sports and Racing
For Dom Sutton, having one of the AFL’s sharpest minds involved in his racing ventures has been equally rewarding. “Yeah, it’s pretty incredible having someone like Craig as an owner,” Sutton remarked. “At the end of the day, we’re both trying to prepare athletes to peak on certain days, and a lot of styles of training are very similar. The main difference would be that his players can talk to him, mine can’t.”
The announcement comes as both McRae and Sutton are gearing up for major events. Collingwood is now bound for a preliminary final, while Feroce is being aimed at the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield, scheduled for the very same weekend. This dual focus highlights McRae’s ability to balance his passion for football with his love for horse racing.
The Intersection of Sports Science and Racing
McRae’s interest in horse racing is not just a hobby but a reflection of his broader commitment to performance excellence. The collaboration with Sutton allows McRae to explore innovative approaches in sports science, which he believes can be applied across disciplines. This cross-pollination of ideas is becoming increasingly common as coaches and trainers seek to push the boundaries of athletic performance.
According to sources close to the Collingwood camp, McRae’s involvement in racing has provided him with fresh perspectives on athlete management and training methodologies. These insights are particularly valuable as the AFL season reaches its climax, with teams looking for any competitive edge.
Looking Ahead: The Stakes of Spring
“Spring means finals time, and the excitement of being involved in this time of year is something we really look forward to,” McRae stated. “Then when Spring is done in terms of footy time, it’s time to get on track to watch Feroce win a Group 1.”
This development follows a growing trend of sports professionals engaging with other athletic domains to enhance their understanding and effectiveness. McRae’s dual focus on football and horse racing exemplifies a modern approach to coaching, where learning from diverse fields can lead to breakthroughs in performance.
Meanwhile, the anticipation builds for both McRae’s Collingwood team and Sutton’s Feroce as they approach their respective high-stakes events. The outcome of these competitions will not only test their strategies but also the synergy of their collaboration.
As the AFL season intensifies and the racing calendar heats up, all eyes will be on McRae and Sutton to see if their shared passion and innovative methods can deliver success on both fronts. The move represents a bold step in the pursuit of excellence, with implications that could resonate beyond their immediate fields.
