By Jonny Turner
Every win Kentuckiana Lodge has with New Zealand harness racing's greatest breed is special for Cran Dalgety.
Cherish Me added to the incredible success of the Scuse Me line when she powered to a track-record-breaking victory in the Anne Thompson Memorial Final at Rangiora on Sunday.
The three-year-old is one of the country's most royally bred horses, being by Downbytheseaside from the champion racemare Adore Me.
The continued success of the family has certified Adore Me's dam Scuse Me as a super-producer and one of the most influential mares in New Zealand harness racing history.
Cran's father the late Jim Dalgety bred and raced Scuse Me with Mark Purdon before they sold her to North America after she produced top-level results on the track in New Zealand.
That could have been the end of the Dalgety family's involvement with the breed had it not been for the foresight of the late Charlie Roberts and his family.
Roberts purchased Scuse Me and returned her to New Zealand, where she would go on to be the matriarch of a stunningly successful breed.
"It is a privilege to train any sort of horse with a pedigree like Cherish Me, but with our family's connection to the breed it does make it special,” Cran said.
"More than anything, we are incredibly grateful that Paul and Mary Kenny continue to entrust us with these horses."
"With this breed and certainly anything out of a champion mare like Adore Me, they have a flashing red light above their name."
"But they are all individuals and we treat them as such. That sums up how this filly has come along."
"We didn't rush her into races most people think she would automatically be in and it is paying off now."
The Kentuckiana team have taken a patient approach with Cherish Me, opting to take her through the Rangiora series rather than attacking fillies ' races.
"She is a bigger filly and we wanted to give her a really good grounding before we took her anywhere too flash."
"Getting the two wins has been great, but the experience will be the making of her when we look at bigger targets."
The Dalgetys don't have concrete plans ahead for Cherish Me, but it is certain she will take on good fillies races in the spring.
"She's only had the three runs, so we will keep her ticking-over during the winter and work towards taking on the better ones."
That means Cherish Me is on track for a clash with her stablemate and close relation All Of Me in the spring.
Kentuckiana Lodge enjoyed more success last weekend with the win of Mostert.
The pacer was having his first start for the Dalgetys after being purchased by Canadian owner Mike Tanev.
"Mike certainly has an eye for a horse and it was great for him to get immediate success on a good night of racing,” Cran said.
"The horse seems to be thriving, so we are heading back to Addington to attack again this week."
Kentuckiana Lodge will start seven runners on Friday night, including St Paddy and Freeze Frame in the Group One Sires Stakes Final.
