By Jonny Turner
With great stakes and big race honours up for grabs there is no better time for Kentuckiana Lodge to line up its biggest ever team at the races.
Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will start eighteen runners on a premier night of racing at Addington on Friday.
Among them is stable pin-up boy Tour Party who starts in the Harness Million for two-year-old boys alongside The Visionary, On Ya Bike and Roger That.
Tour Party finished out of the money in his last start at Addington, but there has been a big silver lining that has come with that defeat.
“Naturally it was disappointing to see him out of the juicy end of it, but he was there for a good, hard run and that is what he got,” Cran said.
“He’s a grouse-doing colt and he needs to be battle-hardened, that is what lead-up races are for.”
“He’s thrived since that run and tightened up nicely.”
“The proof will be in what he does in the Harness Million and we go into it with full faith in him.”
Roger That has also improved off his fresh up second in the deep south, but he faces a tough draw in barrier 13.
The Visionary will be looking to find a nice spot from barrier 2, one spot inside Tour Party.
On Ya Bike has trialled well ahead of his challenge from barrier 7.
Suva Baby is the Kentuckiana rep in Friday night’s Harness Million for two-year-old fillies.
She’s caught the eye when rattling home in her first two starts this time in.
After getting too far back in those runs, a good draw (4) and a small field both look big bonuses for the classy pacer this week.
“We’ve been thrilled with her, she hasn’t had things go her way but she’s run two very nice races,” Cran said.
“Now it’s big race time, we hope luck might fall on our side.”
“Either way, she’s in a great space and we are confident she will run well.”
Cherish Me, All Of Me and Show Stopper take on Friday night’s Hilarious Guest Fillies Classic.
Cherish Me was big in defeat in her last start in a Nevele R Fillies heat, but gave her trainers plenty to work on afterwards.
“She raced enormous but cost herself when she steered like an old Bedford truck, rather than a Lamborghini.”
“We have worked away at that this week and made a few tweaks and we’re hopeful this time she can show her true class.”
All Of Me and Show Stopper add good depth to a powerful three-pronged Kentuckiana attack.
“All Of Me was good last week, she ran on well from a hopeless spot.”
“She’s a genuine threat.”
“Show Stopper is fresh up which is a disadvantage against fillies who have had racing, but she has the talent to be in this with any luck.”
Franco Ankara, Freeze Frame, Treacherous Dreams and Marble Arch take on the Group One Flying Stakes on Friday night.
Franco Ankara has the big advantage of drawing barrier 1 while all of his stablemates are on the second row.
Joyride, Tetrick, Aardie's Memphis, St Paddy and Suspicious Captain take on grade racing on Friday night.
