Three generations combined when Kentuckiana Lodge filly All You Need Is Me ran to a powerful victory in the Group One Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park.
The three-year-old didn’t let her backers down when notching a commanding win at red-hot odds for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and driver Carter Dalgety.
All You Need Is Me followed in the footsteps of her dam Adore Me and her granddam Scuse Me by winning the classic race.
The win doesn’t just link three generations of All You Need Is Me’s family, she also connects three generations of Dalgetys.
Scuse Me was bred and raced by the late Jim Dalgety and following her win in the Northern Oaks, she went on to be the matriarch of the incredible family that has produced All You Need Is Me.
“That aspect of the win makes it very special,” Cran said.
“Dad borrowed the mare and bred Scuse Me who has gone on to start one of the most successful breeding lines in New Zealand.”
“There is a fair case that it is the best breed in New Zealand and we have been very lucky to have some very nice horses from it.”
“It has been an incredible journey when you think about it, Dad sold the mare to America and Charlie Roberts brought her back to New Zealand.”
“Fast forward to now and we have been fortunate enough that Mary and Paul Kenny have trusted us to train All You Need Is Me – one of the best-bred fillies in the country.”
“Then you think about Carter doing the driving too, the whole journey to get here is pretty incredible and it makes the win just that much more special.”
The journey to the Northern Oaks also hasn’t been far from a straightforward one for All You Need Is Me.
The filly wasn’t keen on being a racehorse in her early days, but her powerhouse display showed she certainly is one now.
“She did cause us a few headaches early on, but to be honest that can be part of our job as trainers,” Cran said.
“We always had faith in her ability, she just kept us on our toes for a while.”
“The big thing about her is how much she has kept improving both in the upstairs department and in her motor.”
“In her first start at Nelson she jogged around not really having a clue what she was there for.”
“But she has gotten better and better every start.”
“This is just her first racing preparation, so it is hard not to be excited about what she could do down the track.”
All You Need Is Me will enjoy a few days off following her outstanding Group One win.
She now has the Group One Sires Stakes Fillies Final at Alexandra Park to aim at.
The Kentuckiana Lodge camp will line the three-year-old up in heats of the series before then.
