As you make your way up the drive at Kentuckiana Lodge there are two things that catch your eye, the first is the expertly groomed 1000m Harness Racing training track, the second is a set of rugby goal posts and the Dalgety Family were involved in breaking records in both disciplines over the weekend.

It all started on Friday night at Alexandra Park where star 3yo KRUG etched his name into the history books as the first winner of an NZB Standardbred Harness Million Final. Having drawn barrier one during the week, expectations were high that the son of Bettor’s Delight would bounce back from his last start defeat and add another feature race win to his already impressive CV.

Driver Blair Orange gave Krug a lovely trip in the trail behind the second favorite It’s All About Faith before making use of the passing lane to clear away for a 3 ¾ length victory in 2.39.1.

“He’s pulled up super from that win and has returned to home base in Canterbury today to get set for Cup Week,” said Co-Trainer Nathan Purdon.

While Krug was showing off his best ability, Carter Dalgety, son of Kentuckiana Lodge’s Proprietors Cran & Chrissie Dalgety, could be forgiven for having his attention elsewhere.

Carter and his fellow St Andrew’s College 1st 15 Teammates were busy preparing for their UC Rugby Championship Final, their first finals appearance in nineteen years.

Held at Rugby Park in Christchurch, this is the panicle of School Boy Rugby and after winning 10 from 13 in the round-robin, St Andrew’s College beat St Bedes in their semi-final to set up a potential record-breaking final against rivals Christchurch Boys High School.

Off to a shaky start, STAC quickly found themselves down 20-nil after 20minutes and viewers could be forgiven for thinking the game might have slipped from their grasp. But as the old saying goes, it’s not over till the fat lady sings, and apart from the banter being thrown between each side’s supporters, I didn’t hear any singing. Clearly, neither did the St Andrew’s team as they fought back to record a 35-26 victory and in doing so won their first-ever UC Championship.

Another record-breaking win featuring the Dalgety name, the “Dream Double” says Cran.



By Andrew Fitzgerald.