Carter Dalgety will have a spring in his step before combining with a massive book of 14 drives at Philadelphia on Saturday (New Zealand time).
Just hours before the New Zealand reinsman links up with his largest-ever book of drives, his pacer Fernetti ran to a big fresh-up win at Addington.
The Ketuckiana Lodge four-year-old’s win came at about 4am in the morning for Dalgety, and with a huge day of racing ahead of him, he can be excused for not seeing it live.
But the horseman was thrilled to watch the replay before focusing on his big day ahead.
“It was great to see Fernetti win because I have got quite a few mates in to race him and thankfully he is doing a nice job for them.”
“It would have been nice to drive him but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.”
“It has been a trip of a lifetime so far, I have had great support from the local trainers and I have managed to have a bit of luck along the way.”
“Winning races has been a huge thrill, but what I have learnt along the way has been just as amazing.”
“To have the opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the world has been great.”
Dalgety has won five tote races so far, including driving Beach Rules to win in the fastest-equal mile time for a two-year-old filly in North America last year.
To drive such a classy horse to such a dominant win for leading trainer Linda Toscana was hugely satisfying for Dalgety.
“She ran the gate, gave me a great feel and won very nicely.”
“She definitely feels like a filly that is going places and I was thrilled and very thankful to be able to drive her.”
Dalgety has a marathon programme in front of him in Philadelphia with 14 drives.
But he isn’t daunted by the proposition at all.
“It will be a big old day but I can’t wait to get out there.”
“It is one after the other, but with the horses warmed up for us in between races it is a bit different to home.”
“To get this kind of support is awesome and I hope I can repay the faith of the trainers over here.”
There is little surprise Dalgety has been a success in the USA.
Not just because he is a talented driver in his own right, but because his mentor and housemate is the superstar reinsman Dexter Dunn.
“I couldn’t be anywhere better than staying with Dexter, he has been amazing.”
Check out Carter’s book of drives here
Check out the live stream and replays of the action at Philadelphia here
