The silent hero behind superstar pacer Christen Me got a rare public outing with him yesterday and Murray Howard liked what he felt.
Howard is the traveling foreman and constant companion of the Miracle Mile, Victoria and Auckland Cup winner, who just three days ago was named Horse of the Year.
Christen Me started his new campaign just like he left off last season, with an easy win coming off a 30m handicap in the main trial at Addington yesterday, winning untouched with Howard in the sulky because both usual driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Cran Dalgety are at a harness carnival in, of all places, Ireland.
The trip has been a success too, with Dunn reining three winners from as many drives on one of Ireland’s biggest harness racing days over the weekend.
He will be back in the sulky when Christen Me makes his race debut for the season at Addington on September 4 but Howard enjoyed his turn yesterday.
“You don’t really drive him, you just go along for the ride,” he said.
“He just went out there and jogged it and didn’t beat much.”
“So I was surprised when I heard he paced his last 400 in 27.5 seconds because he really was only cruising.”
Howard knows Christen Me better than anybody and is adamant the now seven-year-old is stronger than last season.
“He is definitely starting this campaign in better nick than he was this time last season.”
Christen Me will head back to the trials at Ashburton next Tuesday.
He wasn’t the only award winner from Saturday night in winning form yesterday, with New Zealand-trained trotters effortless victors in their Breeders Crown heats at Maryborough.
Conon Bridge led all the way to win his male juvenile trot heat while star filly High Gait did likewise in her trotting fillies heat, with her former stablemate and Jewels conqueror Missandei, who is now trained by Brent Lilley, also winning her heat.
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