Watermelon Sugar was a smash hit at Oamaru on Hannon Memorial day and now he is ready show off his speed at Addington.
The Kentuckiana Lodge two-year-old created a special memory for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety when taking out the first running of the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes in 25 years.
The last winner of the two-year-old feature was trained and raced by the late Jim Dalgety near his home patch in North Otago in 1997.
Watermelon Sugar used his high speed to zoom to victory along the passing lane and with the draw he has in race 12 on Friday night, he is likely to be roaring home again.
“He has come through his Oamaru run great,” Cran said.
“It was his first decent trip down the road and he handled it very well.”
“We were rapt with his performance, he did a little bit of work early and then showed his class in a nice field.”
“His work since then has been pleasing.”
“Drawing 8 isn’t ideal but he is a speed horse, so if he is close enough to them or if there is a bit of pace on he is going to give them a fright.”
Tayla Me resumes in race 12, stepping out alongside Watermelon Sugar.
The filly has trialled twice and gets a sweet draw in barrier 2.
“Her last trial was very nice, she actually beat home Invitation Only who won well last week,” Cran said.
“We have been pleased with the way she has come up.”
“She seems to have come on from her last prep and she’s ready to take the next step now.”
“From the 2 draw, you would have to think she is going to be right there when the cameras are flashing.”
Republican Party will attempt to back up a big last-start win at Addington in the Lazarus Stakes.
The colt goes into the feature in the zone.
“He is really thriving, he’s come through his last start super and his work has been excellent,” Cran said.
“We saw what Akuta did in the Hannon and he is going to be hard to beat.”
“But with the frame of mind and the condition our horse is in, we go into the race with good confidence and I am expecting him to run very well.”
Major Icon is also among the big Kentuckiana team stepping out on Friday night.
The two-year-old showed he is closing in on a win with a tough last start third at Addington.
“We have had a few frustrations with him because the ability is clearly there but circumstances have been against him in a couple of starts,” Cran said.
“But his last start was excellent, he sat parked and dug in nice on a good last half.”
“If he were to race like that again I am sure he would take some catching.”
Kentuckiana’s equine cashflow card also starts on Friday night
Trixton Time gets back behind the mobile and looks a genuine hope among a tidy field.
“He is back to being Mr Consistent now that he has fitness from a few runs back.”
“He has been close up in his last two starts and he seems ready to go another honest race.”
Rakanotta heads back to Addington for another crack at 2600m after her win over that distance last week.
The mare takes on a similar grade again and looks well placed if she can overcome a tough draw.
“She just keeps on rolling this mare, it looks a similar race to last week so we would expect her to run well.”
“The draw (13) is the only negative, otherwise she ticks all boxes.”
Carter Dalgety drives Rakanotta, Major Icon, Trixton Time and Tayla Me at Addington.
Blair Orange takes the reins behind Republican Party and Watermelon Sugar.
