By Michael Guerin
Trainer Cran Dalgety is worried about a host of tricky starting points for his team at Addington tonight.
So he warns punters even though most of those he and wife Chrissie take to headquarters tonight are good enough to win they should be treated with caution.
“We have copped a lot of bad draws and even have Casino Action (R4, No.11) having his first standing start, so we could have a few starting issues tonight,” says the in-form trainer.
Team Dalgety begin their night with two of their more promising pacers on Ohoka Le Bron and Franco Sinatra in a strong R54-70 in which they are drawn the outside two marbles on the front line.
“They are both really smart horse who we like a lot,” confirms Dalgety.
“But they both obviously have bigger targets ahead so I think they won’t be rushing forward early.
“That doesn’t mean they can’t win but it makes it harder.
“Ohoka Le Bron is being aimed at a support race on Cup Day when some of his owners will be in town.
“And Franco Sinatra is a really good stayer with a good horse’s record but he is drawn even wider so he will also go back and be better for the outing.”
That would appear to give the well-drawn favourite Sinbad his chance to take a handy spot and be the one to beat after he got back and wide in the red-hot Flying Stakes last week.
Casino Action has been racing some smart young horses lately but steps into handicap grade against horses he can beat if he behaves. But that is a big if.
“It took him three trials to get his standing start ticket and he is still very much learning it. And he has barrier 1 on the 10m so he is a risk.
“But if we get him going from a stand he has a whole range of new options like some of the coutry cup races so we have to start somwhere.”
Defy Me (R8, No.10) is a handy three-year-old who also faces a barrier concern but one Dalgety hopes turns into an advantage.
“He is drawn 1 on the second line and if I thought he was going to get the right run I’d give him a great chance.
“The horse he follows out led early and rolled last start so the draw could work out ok.”
The stable will debut Carving Up (R11, No.6) tonight and Dalgety thinks he is in the right race but still with plenty of improvement in him.
The start will also be crucial in two of tonight’s biggest races, with the main handicap pace bringing together Cup contenders like Smiffy’s Terror against a highly-promising southern pacer in Street Art.
The latter looks very a cracker for trainer Craig Ferguson and has won from a start will show punters whether he can take the next step tonight.
The two-year-old trotters clash in Race 7 minus last week’s stunning winner Paramount Kiwi and manners will be the key after horses like Look
To Da Stars and Bounce N Beyond cost themselves galloping in the Harness Million last Friday.
An interesting newcomer is A Fine Patrick, the first son of wonderful mare Harriet Of Mot, with John Dunn opting to drive him rather than Bounce N Beyond.
A Fine Patrick has had five trials including three this prep and opened the $2.50 favourite in a juvenile trot race with some real depth.
