Krug will have someone special looking over him when he steps out in the Group One Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The Kentuckiana Lodge star will carry Jim Dalgety’s colours which Bolton Byrd won an Auckland Cup and a Northern Derby in, just days after the popular horseman’s passing.
With Jim watching over Krug, Cran hopes it will give the four-year-old the extra slice of luck he needs after his outstanding fifth off a very tough run in The Race.
“We have put Dad’s colours on him as a way of honouring his memory," Cran said.
"Even though he was a southern man through and through it is appropriate that we are doing it at Alex Park.”
“Bolton Byrd was a great horse to Dad back in the 70s and his wins up here meant a lot to his career.”
“Hopefully Krug can do the old boy and his colours proud.”
Krug was posted three-wide for the last lap of The Race before fighting on bravely to run fifth.
The pacer has shown no signs of that tough run having an effect on him since.
“He has come through the race super, he seems to be in a really good space at the moment.”
“The draw and the scenario just went totally against us at Cambridge but I was proud of his effort.”
“He hit a little flat spot when they sprinted at the 400m but to finish up where he did was a huge effort I thought.”
“In that class of field it was very respectable.”
The barrier draws for the Taylor Mile looks to have tipped in Krug’s favour this time with the four-year-old to start from barrier 3 for driver Blair Orange.
But there is no doubt that the early pace will be hectic.
“Probably the only certainty is that when they line up at the start he will be the only one who has run a 24sec quarter out of the gate to lead up before."
“I don’t think Blair will lack any firepower as far as gate speed goes but there is no rule that we have to use it.”
“It will all be up to him to sum things up at the start.”
“The main thing is he gets a reasonable run somewhere handy enough.”
“If he does they will know he is there going by his health and wellbeing.”
If he can win Krug will follow in the footsteps of the greatest horses Jim Dalgety was associated with.
Jim bred Scuse Me, though he is not listed as the breeder as he borrowed her mother from Mark Purdon.
He raced the mare with Vicki Purdon and she produced one of the most memorable wins in Taylor Mile history with her stunning 1.53.5 victory in 1998.
