The Kentuckiana Lodge team won’t be lacking firepower when they venture to Addington on Friday night.
Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety line up four runners including Group One star Krug, Coney Island Lou, Darby O’Gill and Ajira.
Coney Island Lou has trialled up a storm ahead of his return to racing into race 6.
The three-year-old impressed in his two starts last season and has returned an even bigger and stronger force in 2023.
“We have been rapt with the way he has come back up,” Cran said.
“The break he had has done him the world of good and he has a good platform there for a good campaign.”
“He put the afterburners on in his last two trials and we are hoping he can do the same on race night.”
“From the ace draw you would expect that he is going to be right in the picture.”
“There look to be some smarties in there but we would like to think our horse is a bit of a smarty himself.”
Blair Orange drives Coney Island Lou while Carter Dalgety combines with a Kentuckiana debutante in Darby O’Gill.
The three-year-old has also trialled well ahead of his first start in race 3.
“We have been pleased with his progress through his trials and he’s put his hand to say he’s ready to debut,” Cran said.
“He led up and rolled along in his latest trial and he ran on nice from the back in the one before that.”
“We don’t know everything about our opposition but we do know this horse can win a maiden race at short notice.”
“So he should be very competitive from the nice draw (2).”
Carter also reunites with Krug in Friday night’s free-for-all.
Under the mile event’s preferential barrier draw, Krug is forced to start from barrier 6, a draw plenty of top-liners have struggled to win from in the past.
Never known to be one to look at the negative, Cran is going into the race upbeat.
“It will probably make for a better story if we are able to win it, because plenty of people want to tell us the draw is a write-off.”
“It certainly won’t be easy but I think the small field is in our favour.”
“The horse is forward and well, he has really thrived through the summer, so we are hopeful he will run very well.”
All of Krug’s tactics will be left in Carter’s hands.
“We will hand over the reins and say do your best young fella.”
“If we have to settle towards the rear, I would hope he can be finishing off better than most.”
“The horse is a class animal and if he is three lengths off them at worst, he has the turbos to be running on nice.”
Carter also drives Ajira who slots into a winnable race in race 10.
“He didn’t have any luck last time we headed to Addington, so we are hopeful it might be our turn.”
“Certainly on his work and how he raced up in Nelson he would have to be a decent show.”
“The draw is going to be a big help.”
Ajira has landed a sweet draw in barrier 2.
