Christen Me may not have raced for over three months but his New Zealand Cup stocks continue to rise.
The newly-crowned Horse of the Year could be as short as $2.50 with the TAB for our greatest harness race by the time he actually returns to the races at Addington on September 4.
Two factors yesterday confirmed his stranglehold on favouritism for the November 10 Cup at Addington.
One was his huge second at the Ashburton trials, where he paced his 2400m post to post in just over 2:55, his final 400m in 25.5 seconds.
While Ashburton is one of the fastest tracks in Australasia, todays trials were conducted in blustery conditions and Christen Me was allowed to settle back and not given his head to the straight, pushing winner Jason Rulz to a half length in a performance that had seasoned trials watchers buzzing.
His two trials so far this season suggest Christen Me is in fact bigger and stronger than at this stage last term, as trainer Cran Dalgety suggests.
But even more importantly, his Cup opposition looks lengths down on what he has met the last two seasons, when he was a disappointing third and a huge fifth after an early gallop last season.
Entries for the Cup closed on Monday and the biggest no show is Beautide, the dual Inter Dominion champion who has been tipped to miss the race.
He is overcoming a winter setback and will instead be set for the Perth Inter Dominion.
Already the winners of the last four Cups —Terror To Love (three) and Adore Me — are retired so the local opposition is led by last season’s runner-up Franco Nelson, Smolda, who returned to Mark Purdon’s base yesterday, Sky Major and Ohoka Punter.
Any serious market would have any other entry outside of those five rated longer than $20. Of the 40 entries, 10 are Australian-trained including last season’s Hunter Cup quinella mates Arden Rooney and Franco Ledger.
But both former Kiwis started in the New Zealand Cup last season and were outclassed and even with improvement will struggle to test Christen Me.
Another eye-catcher at yesterday’s trials was former group one winning trotter Escapee.
Transferred from the Mark Purdon to Ken Barron stables, she stormed home in 56.4 seconds for her last 800m and looks primed for the first major trot of the season in a few weeks.
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