Cran the travelling man

Canterbury harness racing trainer Cran Dalgety has been clocking up the ks recently.

In Invercargill to supervise his team for a successful Diamonds Day, he’s now returned north for tomorrow night’s super-sized meeting at Alexandra Park.

Cran and his wife Chrissie have two runners in the $100,000 G1 Pascoes the Jewellers Northern Oaks, including All Of Me (Downbytheseaside) who draws two on the second row.

“Two starts ago we had the fibrillation which threw us into a spin. We’ve got that behind us and she ran a great third the other day. The winner was trailing, the horse that ran second was in front and we were at the back. We looped the field and sat parked for the last 1400 and ran a strong third. She’s back on song. Cath looks as though she’s going to start favourite and will draw one. We’re in behind Miss Cherokee. After the first 600 metres I’d like to think we’d be well ahead of the front half of the field and being on the outside would be the perfect scenario,” Dalgety said.

He states that All Of Me is the stable’s best chance in the Oaks.

“She won the Sires Stakes at only her fifth start. She’s got a lot of bottom to her. We haven’t lost any ability, we’re just looking for a bit if racing favouritism.”

The Dalgetys second runner, Lizzie Borden, (Downbytheseaside) has also drawn on the second row.

“She ran an okay fourth at her last start. I’m going in happy but not excited. She’s got some traffic to cover and has to steer good around Alexandra Park so she’s got a few things against her.”

In the $200,000 G1 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby, most trainers will be thinking they’ll be running for the place money with hot favourite Jumal drawing to lead at barrier one.

Freeze Frame (Bettor’s Delight) will start for the Dalgetys in the northern three year old male feature.

“He’s in the best condition he’s been in, in this campaign which he’ll need to be of course. I can’t sit back here and say we’re going to beat Jumal but we’re not going to take defeat. We’ve got a Bettor’s Delight and they love the distance. He’ll thrive on that more than the majority of them will.”

The start is likely to set the tone for the race.

Dalgety asks himself the question, “The second favourite Allamericanplayer – will he give Jumal a run for his money? Does he try and get behind him? A lot are going to be heading for the running line if Jumal wants to sit in front. If you sit in the running line early you may be pushed back five or six on the outer with a mile to run. That’s going to happen if there’s not any lead changes and I suspect there won’t be.”

It’ll be an exciting night for the Dalgety team with horses in two of the four Group One races.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink