By Matt Markham
They’ve been pretty quiet in recent months but expect to see a bit more of the old firm of Cran Dalgety and Dexter Dunn in the coming weeks.
It’s been steady as she goes over the winter months for one of the most dominant trainer and driver combinations in New Zealand harness racing, but a promising team of newcomers, mixed in with some new blood, should see them back to the fore.
That could start tonight at Addington where they combine with four strong winning chances across the night’s racing.
And that coupled with the return of Christen Me and On The Rantan should makes for happy times.
“There’s a nice team there,” Dalgety said during the week.
“They all look capable of winning a race or two, but it’s always really nice to have a few of the good ones back in the action too.”
The team tonight, spearheaded by the return of the talented Alpha Rock looks ominous.
The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, out of the super broodmare Spark’s A Flyin has only once been outside of the top three in his 10 career starts and looked strong winning a recent trial.
Spark’s A Flyin is yet to miss as a broodmare, with her five foals prior to Alpha Rock all having won more than 10 races and he looks capable of doing the same.
Drawn out wide in his resumption with a strong field inside and around him the task won’t be easy, especially over the 1950 metres, but his talent is undeniable.
First starters Fatima Siad and Beautiful Mind are also in action tonight.
Beautiful Mind is a three-year-old filly by the little known stallion Dali and has some strong trial and workout form – including a recent trial victory over race rival tonight, Crackared.
Fatima Siad, a Bettor’s Delight three-year-old filly, has also been impressive around the traps at workouts and trials and she looked strong in a recent trial at Rangiora when she finished third behind quality three-year-old Mongolian Storm and the promising Titanium who also lines up in the last race tonight.
After missing almost the first month of racing, Dunn has made a steady start to defending his national drivers’ crown with seven winners from his 36 drives.
He kicks off a busy weekend tonight with eight drives before heading south to Invercargill for close to a full book before returning to Canterbury to drive at Methven on Sunday.
Super Selector – By Matt Markham
Race 1: C’est L’heure, Aveross Brachole, Imola, Don Pierre
Race 2: Gotta Go Ya Hu, Afterdinnerspeaker, Gunpowder, Rum Delight
Race 3: Royal Jester, Rocki Warrior, Flyingretna, Jay Jayz Boy
Race 4: Jean Sebastien, Cuddly Jess, Gee Gees Invasion, Ruthless Success
Race 5: Dana Duke, Alpha Rock, Ranfurly Rulz, Gimmegold
Race 6: Beautiful Mind, Kitura, Fire One, Crackared
Race 7: Lewy Risk, Beyond Belief, Delightful Dash, Kotare Yael
Race 8: Ask Me Art, Linton Shard, Audi Hare, Going To California
Race 9: Jayceekay, The God Botherer, Little Mo, Donsmedad
Race 10: Franco Hampton, Titanium, Fatima Siad, The Bachelor
Best Bet: Jayceekay (Race 9)
Value: Ask Me Art (Race 8)
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
