By Mike Love
Canterbury junior driver Carter Dalgety will have to come down from cloud nine after Republican Party went a huge race to finish third in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway.
“I’m over the moon – he ran a thriller. He seems really bright too so he’s come through it super,” said Dalgety.
Dalgety is only the second junior driver to have placed in the New Zealand Cup. Dalgety’s friend and mentor Dexter Dunn being the only other junior to achieve that with Bettors Strike, also for Cran Dalgety, finishing second to Monkey King in the 2009 edition of the great race.
Drawn the ace, Dalgety will line up again with Republican Party on Show day in the Group 1 Allied Security NZ Pacing Free-For-All.
“It’s a huge bonus with the draw we have on Friday.”
Before any of that, Dalgety must focus on a backbone meeting at Ashburton today with nine drives on the busy 14-race programme.
Dalgety suggests that his best drive of the day comes in Race 10 behind Always B Miki filly Joyride in the Wakanui Ocean Beef Mobile pace over 1700m for his parents Cran and Chrissie Dalgety.
“Her fresh up run was super and her training since then has been awesome.”
“She’s a big strong staying filly and should suit the Ashburton track.”
Another big chance for the Dalgety whanau comes in Race 5 with Rushkinoff. The four-year-old Sweet Lou gelding lands a horror draw but Dalgety believes they can overcome it in the Edward Nathan Memorial Mobile Pace over 2400m.
“He is hurt by the draw, but went a really good race at Kaikoura. He won quite easily so I’ll probably drive him cold again. There’s no reason why he can’t run a place with natural improvement.”
Outside of the Dalgety runners Martha Stuart for Jason and Ian Thomas will be competitive in the Clem and Russell Brand Memorial Mobile Trot over 1700m.
“She was good at Methven. She will really suit the shorter distance and a mobile with good gate speed drawn the front line.”
“She keeps giving, so the long straight will be perfect for her.”
The rest of Dalgety’s engagements are :
Race 1 – Princess Bella
Race 2 – Lochdarragh
Race 4- Fulla Hot Eyre
Race 7 – La Concha
Race 11 – Wallflower
Race 12 – Major Performer.
Racing begins today from 12:30pm.
