27 October 2022 | Tim Walker
Trainer-driver Dylan Egerton-Green will be looking to strengthen his hand for next week’s WA Derby (2536m) when Mr Chip makes his WA debut in the Happy 4th Birthday Noah George Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park tomorrow night.
Egerton-Green will unleash the son of Rock N Roll Heaven in the three-year-old event, as he looks to make a late push to get in next week’s Group 1 feature.
Mr Chip comes to Australia with solid New Zealand form after scoring two wins and seven placings from 13 starts for Tony Herlihy.
The gelding wasn’t helped by Tuesday’s barrier draw, where he came up with the outside draw of nine.
Egerton-Green said it hadn’t all been smooth sailing with Mr Chip but was looking forward to getting him to Gloucester Park.
“We haven’t had the ideal preparation with him, and he didn’t handle the travel well,” Egerton-Green told The Trots WA.
“We had to work to get him right, but now he’s spot on and ready to go.
“He looks like he goes pretty good.”
Despite the wide draw, Mr Chip is considered one of the key chances in tomorrow night’s event, which also features Been Scootin, Hoppys Way and Swingband.
While Egerton-Green hoped Mr Chip could win and work his way into the Derby, he said he was mindful of the fact the pacer was first-up since August.
“We will try and run a good race but barrier nine will be hard to overcome,” he said.
“I don’t want to give him a gut-buster tomorrow, get into the Derby and then have him cooked for it.
“He will need the race run to suit.
“He has improved every time he’s worked here though, and I watched a few of his New Zealand replays and he has gone pretty well.”
Aiden De Campo takes the drive on Mr Chip, while Egerton-Green will drive his other runner Rockmyster.
Rockmyster will be looking for his third successive win tomorrow night and has drawn favourably in barrier 11.
Egerton-Green said he hoped the gelding would handle the step up in class.
“He’s going really well,” he said.
“He probably needs to run first or second to get in the Derby, but he deserves a chance to get there.”
Egerton-Green said he still rated Maungatahi as his best chance for the WA Derby, despite being unplaced in last week’s Western Gateway.
WATCH – Mr Chip’s second win in New Zealand
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