By Michael Guerin
Cran Dalgety has been here before.
This time last year in fact with a filly who has so many similarities to his new rave pacer Beside Me.
The three-year-old is causing heads to turn every time she steps on the track, the latest when she thrashed older opponents by five lengths at Addington on Friday night courtesy of a 56-second last 800m in the Breckon Farms Thanks Buyers Mobile Pace.
A big, strong daughter of Downbytheseaside and former outstanding filly Dream About Me, Beside Me is bred to be good and is.
How good we will find out in April when she heads north for fillies features culminating in the Pascoes Northern Oaks on April 25.
Dalgety, wife Chrissie and son and driver Carter has been in this exact position last year when All You Need Is Me stormed through the grades and won the Oaks at Alexandra Park, only to get ill and struggle to recapture that form this season.
Just like All You Need Is Me, Beside Me is owned by Charles Joseph Ltd, a company set up for members of the late great man’s family to race some of the breed.
So the two fillies have plenty in common but Dalgety says one big difference.
“All You Need Is Me is a good mare and was a very good filly but she had a few issues which horses can get racing at the highest level whereas I don’t think we will see those with this filly.
“She has yet to win an Oaks like the other filly has but she is bigger and stronger and I am sure she will handle whatever we throw at her.”
That is a decent warning shot for trainers of other good three-year-old as Beside Me looks to have real x-factor and if she handles the right-handed Alexandra Park she is the one to beat in the Oaks, for which she is now the $2.20 futures favourite.
She was one of two winners on the night for the Dalgetys and while Captain Commodore’s only came in a maiden race, the style in which he sat parked to win easily suggests he will be winning again soon.
