By Matt Markham
Super pacer Christen Me has come through the first run of his Australian campaign with flying colours.
The gelding’s trainer, Cran Dalgety said on Monday that there was a bounce in the step of his star on Monday morning after he was initially a quite tired horse on Sunday.
Christen Me finished third in Saturday night’s Wondias Mate at Albion Park.
The defeat was a shock one, but considering he drew one on the second line over a mile and was then forced three and four wide in a 27.1 third quarter, the run of the former Miracle Mile winner was full or merit even though the winner, Glenferrie Hood, came off his back inside the final 150 metres to swamp him and leader Ideal Scott.
“I thought the run was super. Dexter (Dunn) said he was flying coming off the back,” Dalgety said.
“He was a bit jaded yesterday and then again today.
“But there was a bit of a bounce in his step this morning as well so I’m happy with where we are at.
“I guess initially it probably looked disappointing, but when you break it all down it was a very good run.
“And it’s a run which he will improve on.
“He tries so hard every time he races so it seems to take a little extra out of him than it might another horse so his recovery is just as important as anything else.”
The defeat, and the decision not to race again until the Sunshine Sprint on July 9 means that they will forgo the opportunity to win a $50,000 bonus as part of the UBet Picket Fence initiative.
Horses are required to win two races in the lead up July 16, which has been touted as Finale night with four selected races carrying bonuses if their winners have won two races in the lead up the meeting.
Christen Me’s bonus was worth $50,000 but Dalgety was happy to now be looking ahead to the two major assignments without any other distraction.
“It would be nice, it’s $50,000 after all but the horse owes us nothing so he comes first.
“That should ensure now we are ready for the next two races and are firing on all cylinders.”
Dalgety is due to return to Christchurch today with Christen Me’s right hand man, Murray Howard taking over the day-to-day control of the pacer in the lead up to the Blacks A Fake.
“Muz knows the horse better than anyone.
“He’ll have him ready for the big show I’m sure of that.”
Back on home soil Dalgety has a race of his own to focus on.
He’s currently third on the national trainers’ premiership with 57 wins, but has the Greg and Nina Hope (55), Mark Jones (52) and Phil Williamson (51) stables breathing down his neck.
He’s got 13 horses engaged over three meetings in both the South and North Islands this weekend including unbeaten two-year-old On The Rantan who will look to make it three wins in as many starts in his bonus run in the C1 grade at Addington on Thursday night.
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