While plenty of people are trying to get out of Auckland, Cran Dalgety couldn’t think of a better place to be.
The Kentuckiana Lodge trainer has headed north to put the polish on the team ahead of a big Friday night of harness racing.
Trackwork with Casino Action and Remember Me this week has Cran thinking it has been well worthwhile venturing north as Aucklanders line up to fly in the opposite direction.
“Both horses have really impressed me this week.”
“We are here at Derek Balle’s and they have settled in very well and their work has been super.”
“We are happy to be here, so let’s bring on Friday night.”
Dalgety is expecting marked improvement from Remember Me when she lines up against her own age and sex in race 10.
The race will serve as the filly’s final hitout before the Sires Stakes Fillies Final.
“She raced nice last week against the boys but I am expecting her to take it up a notch this week.”
“She is just a baby really and with it being her first trip away we had the cotton wool on after the big float ride north.”
“She’s improved a lot and her training has been super this week.”
“She’s got the breeding and the talent to be running a very serious race this week.”
Blair Orange will head north to partner the Kentuckiana Lodge team on Friday night.
He has the task of negotiating a sweet trip for Remember Me from barrier 5.
Orange has an even bigger task on his hands with Casino Action, who has copped a tricky draw in barrier 8 in race 6.
Fit and ready to run a huge race, the two-year-old just needs a slice of Orange magic to be right in the finish.
“He is better for his run last week too and his training has been super.”
“As many people know there can be a lot of speed early at Auckland compared to Addington, so we don’t know exactly how the race will pan out for him.”
“Ideally we would like a bit of B.Orange magic to get him a nice trip somewhere.”
“But he might have to do more work than most.”
“With the way he is racing, he can do that and still run a big race.”
Chrissie, Carter, Sarah and the team have home base under control ahead of the weekend.
Mitsi Gaynor heads to Addington on Friday night to take on a field she can handle in race 9.
This time the team just needs a little Carter Dalgety magic from her draw in barrier 1 on the second row.
“Her work has been nice and she has the speed to match most of that field.”
“If Carter can get her a nice run through somewhere she is a big chance.”
“Of course what the horse starting in front of us does will be important, he led last week and it would be lovely if he does again.”
“But wherever our filly is she will be closing off hard.”
Before he jumps in the bike behind Mitsi Gaynor, Carter will put on his grandfather Jim Dalgety’s colours to drive Trixton Time in race 3.
The trotter starts one place wider in barrier 2 on the second row.
“He is racing super and earning his keep, it is the same story really, a little bit of luck from the draw and he will be right there.”
- by Jonny Turner
