Joyride is on a one-way path to the Group One spotlight following her powerful front-running victory at Ashburton.
It was difficult to tell who produced the better performance when the Kentuckiana Lodge filly ran to victory during New Zealand Cup Week.
Joyride was outstanding when putting away a handy field with ease after starting from a dreaded barrier draw in 16.
But Carter Dalgety was just as good when picking the best possible path forward for the two-year-old who found the lead in the early stages of her 1700m assignment.
Even Cran couldn’t split the pair’s efforts.
“I think we will give them both 9.8 out of 10, they were both pretty near perfect.”
“Going into the race we knew she was in super health and training the house down but from 16 at a speed track like Ashburton you had to wonder if it wasn’t mission impossible.”
“Carter did a great job of pushing forward at the start and when she found the lead we started feeling a whole lot better about things.”
“She did it easy enough too, she had it pretty well parcelled up a fair way from home.”
Cran and Chrissie Dalgety purchased Joyride at the Sydney yearling sales after enjoying good success with her full sister Joyful.
Joyful was one of the leading fillies of her year in Victoria where she was trained by Emma Stewart.
The mare, who has now been retired and has moved to Canterbury, was raced by the Dalgetys along with Perth owners Darryl and Cameron Brown.
Darryl Brown joined the Kentuckiana Lodge crew who race Joyride after her yearling sales purchase.
“We have had a wonderful association with Darryl for many years, he’s been an absolute pleasure to train for and we’ve become good friends.”
“Darryl knows a nice horse, he’s raced Bit Of A Legend and Katy Perry with us.”
“So when he came in Joyful and Joyride with us you knew they were half a chance of doing a good job, he’s a great judge.”
Kevin Clark, Bernard Smith, Gary Merlo, Ryan Spice, Jonny Turner and Scott Knight also race the promising two-year-old with the Dalgetys.
Joyride’s strong winning effort boosted her ranking to 9th for the $100,000 Group One Ace Of Diamonds at Addington on November 29.
Qualifying for the event ends on November 24 and it looks highly likely Joyride will get her ticket into the race.
“Being an Australian we haven’t been able to clash with the good fillies in the Sires Stakes and races like that.”
“But they can’t keep us out of this one, so we are keen to give her her shot.”
“We think she will measure up, she’s a tough wee thing and she won’t shirk the task when the acid goes on.”
The Dalgety camp is set to have a two-pronged attack on the Ace Of Diamonds with Forever Dream in 5thon the qualifying table for the event.
