Ajira announced his return to the track in style on a big night for Kentuckiana at Lodge at Addington on Friday.
The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety three-year-old produced a strong front-running win for driver Carter Dalgety in his first run since October.
Everything Ajira has done thing time in has thrilled the team at Kentuckiana and it is clear the pacer is in for a big campaign.
“He did that really nicely tonight, I was thrilled with him,” Carter said.
“He went super at the trials last week and he has gone even better tonight.”
“This time in he has really matured and strengthened up and I wouldn’t think the next grade would worry him.”
“The other thing is he is probably better with a sit – he has got a nice turn of foot.”
“So, we couldn’t be happier with him.”
Tayla Me also ran a strong race in third behind Ajira, for driver Sarah O’Reilly.
A maiden win looks extremely close for the half-sister to Sugar Me.
“She went a great race behind two really nice horses, a maiden win is going to come at short notice,” Carter said.
Bubba Scrub, who split Ajira and Tayla Me in second placing is held in good regard by the Regan Todd stable and is being aimed at the Southern Supremacy Stakes.
Trixton Time sealed a winning double for Cran, Chrissie Dalgety and Carter Dalgety when sprinting sharply to win.
The trotter faced a big step up in grade on Friday night but handled it with ease.
“He probably had no right to win it with the step up in grade he was facing,” Carter said.
“But he has been thriving and he just keeps getting better and better.”
“When he got the gap he sprinted up really nicely.”
“His rating will go up again with the win but the way he has been stepping up he doesn’t look like he is finished yet.”
Friday night’s win was another for Carter in his grandfather Jim Dalgety’s colours.
Jim races the trotter with Greg and Leigh Ayers.
