Kentuckiana Lodge star Krug has what many of us back in New Zealand would love to have on our agendas this week following his huge effort for fourth in The Rising Sun at Albion Park. 

The three-year-old is in the middle of a quiet week in Australia’s winterless sunshine state as he prepares for next weekend’s Group One Queensland Derby.

Cran Dalgety has had time to reflect on Krug’s fourth placing in last week’s A$250,000 feature and he is just as rapt with his star colt as he was when he dug deep in the home straight.

“I think he went super, the one thing I would say is you can’t underestimate what that extra 12 months means to the four-year-olds that beat us,” Cran said. 

“First of all, they were very good horses and they beat us fair and square.”

“But they just have that hardening at the top level that we haven’t quite had yet.”

“Krug’s time will come and if he were to come back to this race next year I would like to think he will be even better for the 12 months he will have under his belt.”

“It is also a bit of a mental thing too, not just the year of physical growth they have on us.”

“When Expensive Ego eyeballed us in that last lap he was just cruising but Krug isn’t as used to being in that kind of scenario just yet.”

“You look back and it took horses like Christian Cullen and Chokin to beat older open class horses as three-year-olds in the really big races.”

“Krug might not be doing what they were doing but he is an exceptional three-year-old and he is getting better with each month that goes by.”

“I’ve got full faith once he has had a chance to race at the open level he will thrive on it.”

“In summary, he has raced absolutely super and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Cran had the option of running Krug in this week’s South East Derby as a lead-in to the Queensland Derby.

Instead, he decided to give his star colt a quiet week ahead of his quest for a fourth derby title.

“It was a big run last weekend but he has come through it well.”

“Next week is the big goal so we will sit out this week and have him primed for the derby.”

Blair Orange’s decision to stay in Queensland following The Rising Sun means he is definitely available for the Queensland Derby which is a major boost for the Kentuckiana Lodge camp.

Chrissie Dalgety has the Kentuckiana Lodge team at home well under control and they have been in good form under her watch.

Sugar Me and Shards In Manhattan both go around at Addington this week.

Sugar Me steps up sharply in class but must rate a strong chance on his excellent form in race 6 on Thursday night.

Shards In Manhattan will be out to continue her good recent efforts in race 1 on Sunday.

Both horses will be driven by stable junior driver Sarah O’Reilly.