A massive step back in grade awaits Kentuckiana Lodge pacer Watermelon Sugar on Show Day at Addington.
After taking on the stars of the New Zealand two-year-old ranks, trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety have slotted the gelding into a graded race on the second day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival.
Watermelon Sugar starts from barrier 2 on the second row in race 3, following out his stablemate Rakanotta.
After battling it out with stars like Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming recently, Watermelon Sugar looks very well placed.
“It is certainly a nice step back in grade for him,” Cran said.
“It won’t be easy by any means as Show Day never is, but we can go into the race with a good amount of confidence.”
“The horse has been running some quite outstanding sectionals against the big guns, but he has been doing that from some tough draws.”
“He isn’t going to need to go any faster on Friday, so we are hoping he gets a fair crack at them and shows what he is capable of.”
“He is a lovely animal and he won’t let us down.”
Michael Stanley is booked to drive Watermelon Sugar, with Carter Dalgety to drive Rakanotta.
Rakanotta looks like a place and top 4 threat in Friday’s event, with the mare more suited to 2600m racing.
“From the draw, she is going to get her chance to get a piece of the action.”
“We would have loved to get her over a longer trip because she is tough and very honest.”
“But we are hopeful she will be able to land handy and run a cheeky race.”
Trixton Time looks like a solid hope for the Kentuckiana Lodge camp on Show Day.
The trotter returns to mobile racing in race 4, which he loves.
“He is a cunning old fox and he really shouldn’t have missed away on Tuesday.”
“Back to the mobile we expect him to be back to his old self and there is no reason he can’t feature with the right run.”
Kentuckiana Lodge again has three horses going head-to-head on Friday with Ajira, Casino Action and Invitation Only starting together in race 8, just as they did on New Zealand Cup Day.
“They all seem to have come through their runs on Cup Day well and are ready to give it another crack on Friday,” Cran said.
Carter drives Ajira with Zac Butcher to drive Casino Action and Invitation only to be driven by Michael Stanley.
The Dalgety stable also starts Carmelite in the Group One Sires Stake Fillies Final.
“She is fit and well, she will just need some luck from a tough draw (14).”
Carter will take the reins behind Carmelite.
