The people came and they saw Krug conquer.

The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained pacer and his rookie pilot Carter Dalgety charged into Southland’s history books by brilliantly winning the Group One Invercargill Cup on Saturday. 

To say Krug was in the zone and looking every bit as good as he has in his three prior Group One wins may be an understatement.

The Dalgetys clearly had the four-year-old primed for an epic performance, and his nineteen-year-old reinsman was too, making them an unstoppable force.  

“He warmed up as good as I’ve ever driven him at the races and he stepped the mark beautifully,” Carter said. 

“Today he was just in the zone.”

“It is outstanding – all the owners for putting me on – I am only a young guy and to trust me – it is a big thing.”

“Mum and Dad and all the owners – it is just awesome.”

Carter admitted he was lost for words after Krug put away a star-studded Invercargill Cup line up by more than four-lengths.

Not just because he had just won his first Group One race before turning 20.

But because it came with a horse he has formed an inseparable bond with.

“It is just amazing, it is literally something that is hard to put into words.”

“To do it with this horse, he is my best mate.”

“We have been through thick and thin together, I am just over the moon that he could do it like that in front of this awesome crowd.”

It has been clear for all to see during his short career that Carter isn’t one to be flustered by the occasion, whether it is big or small.

Cran Dalgety isn’t sure whether his son has ice running through his veins or not.

But he does know Carter can go into a race confident he has done all the necessary homework. 

“He is a deep thinker, he doesn’t get too radical about things and he does a lot of study pre-event,” Cran said. 

“Trying to work things out, but then you have got to run on instincts after that.”

It has been a wild ride through the spring and summer for Krug and his owners Chrissie Dalgety, Mike and Helena Hanning, McKerrow Bloodstock Limited, Gary Merlo, Phil and Margaret Creighton, Grant Dickey and Ken Cummings 

The pacer picked up a bug following his first spring outing in the Hannon Memorial before standing start issues were another hindrance.

But on Saturday, with those issues well in the rear-view, Krug showed his true worth and it was breathtaking to see. 

“We have never lost faith in this horse any step of the way,” Cran said.

“He has had a few challenges health-wise, he is a horse that does take more health management than others.”

“But as the say, class is permanent.”

“He has got that speed and power only the very good ones have.”

“We knew we would run good – but to win the race was a hell of a buzz.” 

“At the start, it was our good luck while a couple of others missed away.”

“But mid-race Carter had to make a decision to be a force to be reckoned with.”

“Controlling the pace and then sprinting the last 600m, it worked out a really good tactical drive.”

Ohoka Le Bron also went south on Saturday and the pacer ran a brilliant race, only nosed out late by With Style on a hot time. 

With more experience under his belt, the two-year-old is developing into a very potent force.