By Duane Ranger
Cran Dalgety has two horses nominated for his home-town meeting Addington Raceway tonight but insisted Dexter Dunn drive at Alexandra Park instead.
“I had to twist his arm and tell him about the prestige of a North Island Oaks race. If Chevron Express can win that tonight it will put her in good stead when it comes to her broodmare career.
“I also had to calm the owner down and put him in a head-lock and tell him this is the race we wanted to win. We could have lined her up in last month’s Northern Trotting Derby and finished a creditable fifth, bit no this is has been the race I wanted to win with her for a long time now,” Dalgety said.
“I have wrapped her in cotton wool for this one. This is her New Zealand Cup,” he added.
Chevron Express will start a hot favourite in tonight’s $25,000 Haras des Trotteurs North Island Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
She is rated R82 – 18 points more than the next highest assessed trotter in the 2200m mobile event – the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained Regal Love.
“She should win but we all know in racing there are no such thing as certainties. I’ve been in Auckland for two weeks and have left the horse with Nathan Purdon. He’s doing a splendid job. I’ll be back in Auckland on Thursday,” Dalgety said.
Chevron Express beat Regal Love by half a head from an awkward second row draw in the Group Two $40,000 New Zealand Trotting Oaks at Addington on March 31.
That victory came almost two months after he and Dunn nailed the Group Three $25,000 Hambletonian Classic at Ashburton.
Only six starters will greet starter Frank Phelan tonight. Chevron Express has drawn six. The 3-year-old Muscle Mass – Kathy Galleon filly has only had one start at Alexandra Park. That was when she finished a creditable third against the boys from gate 10 in the Group Two Sires Stakes 3yo Trotters Champs on April 21.
“I think Dexter will amble forward with her at the start and then he will assess it from there. She should win but you can never tell with juvenile trotters.
“You have to drive them like their reins are made of cotton, whereas a pacer you can throw rocks and stones at them all day and they will generally remain in their gait,” said Dalgety.
“It’s an Oaks race and carries a lot of prestige. I want it,” he added.
Chevron Express has been staying at Derek Balle’s Pukekohe stable. Her only start over the 2200m mobile came last start when finishing a three-and-three-quarter length third behind the favourites Enghien and President Roydon.
Chevron Express was the third favourite in that Group Two $60,000 Sires Stakes 3yo Trotting Championship.
Toughest for her to beat tonight will be the Purdon and Rasmussen trained Regal Love, who has drawn five.
The Love You filly was fifth favourite last week and finished an 11-length eighth. Tim Williams did the driving that night. Josh Dickie takes over the reins this time.
But it’s hard to see any horse getting past Chevron Express. What beats her wins and for that reason she looks a trebles and quaddies anchor in the penultimate race of the evening.
Chevron Express has raced 16 times for five wins, five placings and has banked $61,162 in stakes. She is owned by Small car World Limited.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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