Ashburton undercard

While others didn’t get the rub of the green, Chicago Sky (Bettor’s Delight) did and harness racing driver Matty Williamson made the most of his opportunities in todays $60,000 Group Two Mid Canterbury Trotting Owners Ladies Sprint at Ashburton.

In the early rush Williamson held his ground and waited for Just Like Jagger to come around so he could take a trail. Turning in, rather than take the passing lane Williamson moved Chicago Sky off the inside to get a run on the back of Stella Rouge. Halfway down the straight Williamson eased his charge out to the centre of the track and close to the post she mastered Shella Rouge to win by a neck from a late charging Arafura with half a head back to Stella Rouge.

“She’s got beautiful speed and a good motor. She’s a wee bit dumb at times and she knocked off when she was in front today. She’s got heaps of class,” Williamson said.

The winning time was 1-58.6 and the last 800 was cut out in 54.2.

The time bettered the previous race record of 1-59.9 held by Princess Meritaten.

It was an excellent training performance by Winton couple John and Katrina Price.

When Chicago Sky last raced on September 15^th at Addington she ran second to Arafura. She’d had only one workout prior to today’s win.

This win is her first at Group level and adds to her residual value as a broodmare, as she’s a full sister to multi-millionaire pacer Chicago Bull.

The Prices will be offering a full brother to both Chicago Sky and Chicago Bull as part of the SBSR draft at February’s NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch.

Tour Party (Bettor’s Delight) trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety broke the race, track and New Zealand records when he won the fifth heat of the Woodlands NZ Sires’ Stakes for two year old colts and geldings today.

From barrier five Tour Party had to work hard to take the lead.

“He had to do quite a bit early. I didn’t want to rush him too much. It was a good performance, he never got a breather. He was travelling good and just waits for them a touch. Being a colt, he’s a little bit laid back so I had to give him a roar just to wake him up again,” driver Carter Dalgety said.

In one of the tightest finishes all day, Tour Party held out a gallant Coal Fire by half a neck with a neck back to a brave Patriot.

His winning time of 1-57.6 with a mile rate of 1-51.0 lowered the previous track, race and New Zealand records of 1-58.1 held by Got The Chocolates.

In the $30,000 fourth heat of the Dunstan NZ Sires’ Stakes for two year old fillies the Dalgety team was at it again with Suva Bay (Downbytheseaside) clearing maiden ranks when beating a late charging Jorja by three quarters of a length.

Living up to her pedigree the royally bred Cherish Me (Downbytheseaside – Adore Me) trained by the Dalgetys won the seventh heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series.

As expected, early fireworks came from The Queens Gambit who fired out of the gate and took up the running, with Ripples dropping into the trail. That left Cherish Me in the parked possy for most of the 1700 metre trip.

“I knew if the race was going to work out like that I was going to have to sit outside that one (The Queens Gambit). To the horse’s credit two or three starts ago she wouldn’t have relaxed like that so she’s turning into a real racehorse now,” said driver Carter Dalgety.

Turning in, The Queens Gambit was still clinging on to a narrow lead.

“She was jogging round the bend. I knew she was tougher than she’s quick, so you’ve got to drive her a wee bit ugly.”

It took most of the length of the straight for Cherish Me to master The Queens Gambit, and then she had challenges inside and out.

Ripple was coming up the passing lane while Cherish Me’s stablemate All Of Me was coming hard down the outside.

“She just sort of loose lines but she never lets them past. She’s amazing. I thought halfway up (the straight) a couple might get her but she just stuck her head out.”

By the line Cherish Me had clung on to beat All Of Me by half a head with Ripples three quarters of a length back in third. Cath who stormed home late was a head back in fourth.

The big frame of Cherish Me powering through the middle to win the Nevele R heat (Race Images – Photo)

Cherish Me will now head to the $200,000 final on Cup Day.

“I wouldn’t swap her for anything else.”

Sonofamistery (Sweet Lou) trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer and driven by Tim Williams took out the last race on the card, the $40,000 Gallagher Insurance Ashburton Three Year Old Showcase.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink