By Brigette Solomon
The Cambridge Pacers Christmas Cup promises plenty of action today with South Island-based drivers Sam Ottley and Carter Dalgety both engaged to drive strong chances as they continue their quests for driving milestones.
Ottley aims to be the first woman to achieve 100 driving wins in a 12-month season and drives the Arna Donnelly-trained Little Spike, while Dalgety drives Fernetti who is trained by his parents Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, and he is vying for the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship title.
Little Spike starts the 2700 metre race (4.57pm) off a 20 metre handicap at what will be the three-year-old’s first standing start.
“He went super last start but being his first standing start it’s always a bit of a question mark, although he’s the only one off 20 metres which isn’t too bad,” says Ottley, “he’s a very nice horse but there’s a few other decent ones in there too.”
The Terror To Love gelding was a superb winner at Alexandra Park last start when he made a wide run from well back in the field to flash home down the extreme outside for an emphatic 2.75 length victory. It was the gelding’s fifth win from just 13 starts.
“I’m pretty lucky to be driving Arna’s horses tonight and they’re all nice horses which is even better, I think The Surfer (R7) is also another reasonable chance,” says Ottley, “Arna sort of persuaded me it was worth coming up to drive and give chasing the 100 wins in a season a good go since I’m so close to it as I was fairly diplomatic about it initially and wasn’t sure it was achievable.”
“There’s going to be plenty of travelling between now and the end of the year, but I absolutely love this time of the year, the racing is great and I’ll give it a good go at getting to 100 wins but at the end of the day, what will be will be.”
The Dalgety runner Fernetti starts the race from three on the 10 metre line and was also a last start winner at Alexandra Park when taking out a Northern Metro Pacers Series Heat on December 13.
“The stand will be a query although I don’t mind being off 10 metres on him,” says Dalgety, “he’s sensible and clean gaited so hopefully he can get away well as he likes to be up on the speed.”
“Little Spike and The Big Lebowski both go pretty good and have been racing well so it won’t be easy, but the run will benefit him heading to the Northern Metro Series Final on New Years Eve.”
The early race favourite in the Cambridge Christmas Pacers Cup is the Ray Green-trained The Big Lebowski ($2.80) who will have a tough ask to overcome a 35 metre handicap.
As well as Fernetti, Dalgety also drives the Tate Hopkins-trained runners Major Tommy (R6) and Lou Will (R4), and Skee Princess (R1) who is locally trained at Cambridge by Tim Hall.
“With Fernetti racing in the north and entered at Cambridge I thought it was worth coming up and trying to get a few more drives which I’ve been lucky enough to get a few,” says Dalgety, “it was a big help with having a big day getting four winners at Invercargill last week as it’s going to be a tight battle for the Junior Premiership and I know Wilson (House) has a pretty good book in the days ahead.”
Dalgety is currently at the top of the leader board with 64 wins, with Sam Thornley second on 62 wins, and Wilson House third on 58 wins.
The racing action gets underway today with the first race at 1.00pm.
