The Kentuckiana Lodge team enjoyed a special kind of thrill when Freeze Frame outmuscled his rivals in his thrilling win in the Group One Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day.
Family combined when trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety’s two-year-old thrived under the pressure of elite racing when scoring for driver Kimberly Butt.
The Dalgetys have enjoyed plenty of special moments in harness racing as a family.
On Tuesday, Freeze Frame dug in determinedly to deliver them another one as Butt scored her first Group One win in the sulky.
“Everybody knows that winning big races is a hell of a thrill,” Cran said.
“But to have your niece doing the steering and for her to win her first Group One, that brings the warm fuzzies that really make racing special.”
“It definitely was a special kind of thrill.”
“We needed a driver and we called on Kim at Ashburton.”
“She drove him perfectly then and she did it again under the pressure of Group One racing on New Zealand Cup Day.”
“We couldn’t happier for her and the horse’s great group of owners who have been very supportive.”
Despite bringing strong form, Freeze Frame was a little underrated by pundits leading into the Group One Sires Stakes Final.
The Kentuckiana team had faith in their charge, especially given he had drawn a sweet spot.
“He’s a real Bettor’s Delight, which is not a bad thing to be.”
“We thought he would take the strong tempo in his stride and be there with something to offer when others were feeling the pinch,” Cran said.
“Kim’s drive helped give him his shot and he dug in late to beat another Bettor’s Delight, funnily enough.”
Freeze Frame’s ownership group includes Margaret Creighton, Keiran Fahy, Grant Dickey, Mick Boots, Josh Davine, Gary Merlo, Yvonne Cummings, Barry Phillips, Russell Baird and Rodney Botting.
Kentuckiana Lodge enjoyed more Group race success on New Zealand Cup Day with Franco Sinatra’s win in the Group Two Junior Free-For-All.
The pacer made the most of a sweet trip from Carter Dalgety before powering away from his rivals.
“He’s been mixing it with the big boys this campaign and he certainly hasn’t disgraced himself.”
“His last start at Kaikoura was a non-event when one stopped in front of him, so his formline wasn’t reading as well as he is going.”
“He’s a lovely horse and when he got the run he did, he cashed in.”
“It is great to put a nice race on his CV — he deserves it and his owners do too.”
Franco Sinatra’s Group Two win was the 11th of his career, with all 11 coming at Addington for owners Brendan and Nigel Fahy, Rex Knowler, Dougal Steel, and Steve and Raewyn James.
The five-year-old’s win has earned him a shot at the Group One New Zealand Free-For-All on Show Day.
