The spring is in sight and the Kentuckiana Lodge team is raring to go judging by their excellent day out at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday.
There were ticks of approval all around after trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety stepped out nine horses and they trialled right up to expectations.
Ohoka Le Bron was among those who showed they were right on track for a big spring with his winning trial performance.
The two-year-old lead throughout to score easily ahead of his stablemate Black Pearl, who also trialled well.
“He led up and ran home nicely without having to be asked for too much,” Carter Dalgety said.
“He is a nice horse and should be in for a good spring.”
“We will monitor how he comes through this run – he seems to have pulled up really well – and look for a race in ten days or so.”
“Black Pearl sprinted up nicely at the line, she still has a bit to learn and was mucking around a bit before she wound up.”
“She will race on Sunday and you would think having a race would be a big benefit to her and help her ringcraft a lot.”
Kentuckiana also produced Carmalite to win her trial with Light Up The Fire running well in behind her in fourth.
“Carmalite trialled up really nicely, she kept improved from her last trial and showed she’s a nice filly,” Carter said.
“She was nominated for Sunday but she is more likely to go to another fillies and mares race later on.”
“She is definitely going in the right direction.”
“Light Up The Fire will line up on Sunday after she trialled well, she ran home very nicely after getting a long way back.”
“She has drawn 7, but that is probably the only thing against her and we would expect her to run well.”
Kentuckiana Lodge had three horses run in Tuesday’s two-year-old trial with Darby O’Gill leading home Watermelon Sugar and Chicago Bear.
“Darby O’Gill and Watermelon Sugar both trialled really well.”
“They both had really good educational runs, racing in the field and then sprinting up really nicely.”
“They are both nice horses and we are really happy with them.”
“Chicago Bear led up and it was an educational run for him too.”
“Leading up a bigger field was a something new for him.”
“He will head for a freshen up, he has improved again this campaign and showed some really nice speed.”
The winners kept on coming at the Ashburton trials when Franco Mecca and Coney Island Lou ran one-two in their qualifying event.
“They both ran well, Franco Mecca led up and jogged it really.”
“Coney Island Lou was last at the 400m and he got home absolutely super to run second.”
“We can’t really fault either of them, they ready to go to the races now and you would think that they would both win a maiden race at pretty short notice.”
Kentuckiana Lodge’s attention turns to the racing at Addington and Ashburton this week.
Major Icon, Trixton Time and Misti Gaynor start at Addington on Friday while Black Pearl, Light Up The Fire and Rakanotta will line up at Ashburton on Sunday.
