Winter isn’t over just yet but spring is in the air at Kentuckiana Lodge.
After trialling a decent number of horses during the week, trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will line up their biggest team for some time with six horses to start across the weekend.
Major Icon, Trixton Time and Mitsi Gaynor will start at Addington on Friday night while Black Pearl, Light Up The Fire and Rakanotta will head to Ashburton on Sunday.
“It is good to have a few more stepping out at the races,” Cran said.
“Winter is a quiet time for us, we like to target the better races and the winter time is about getting horses ready for the spring and working on our young ones.”
“It is good to have those horses coming through and getting to the races now, there is plenty to look forward to, so let’s bring it on.”
Major Icon heads to Addington on Friday night on the back of a smart first up third at the same track last week.
Though he has to contend with barrier 7 in race 2, the two-year-old still looks hard to beat.
“It was a good run fresh up because the winner has looked quite a smart animal,” Cran said.
“He has trained on nicely this week, that first up run has tidied him up and even though it is not the perfect draw he should be very competitive.”
Mitsi Gaynor continued her excellent recent for with a second placing last week.
She has fared a little better with her draw, coming up with barrier 4 in race 10 and from there she also looks hard to hold out.
“She has been our little cashflow card lately,” Cran said.
“Her last run was probably one of the best she has put in right the way through.”
“She worked hard and kicked on very strong, which was great to see.”
“From the good draw we are hoping they won’t be able to catch her on Friday.”
Trixton Time returns to racing at Addington on Friday night, starting from a 10m handicap in race 8.
The trotter is the only runner starting fresh up in the race, which looks the only advantage he is giving away to his rivals.
“He has come back nice and he’s been pleasing us with his work.”
“A lot of the horses in that race have had a lot of racing through the winter, which might count against us.”
“But he should go a very honest race.”
Black Pearl and Light Up The Fire go head to head in their debuts in race 4 at Ashburton on Sunday.
Both pleased their trainers with their trial efforts at the same track earlier this week and a bold showing is expected from both fillies.
“They are both nice fillies and in a maiden field they should be highly competitive.”
“Light Up The Fire probably has slightly more ringcraft about her and she should race very well.”
“The 7 draw probably isn’t ideal but she is an adaptable type.”
“Black Pearl has made good progress through her trials and she’s switching on to what the game is all about.”
“From the nice draw she should be a decent chance of being in the photo.”
Stable newcomer Rakanotta will also start in the Kentuckiana colours for the second in race 8 on Sunday.
“She got a mile back from a tricky draw first up for us at Addington and she kept running on.”
“We can’t really fault her, she has trained on nicely.”
“With a better draw and racing a smaller field we would like to think she’s a nice eachway chance.”
