Worthwhile trip for Dalgety

A three hour trip south was worthwhile for Canterbury junior reinsman Carter Dalgety when his only drive B Smart (American Ideal), won her third race for Ashburton harness racing trainer Nicole Harris.

B Smart was bred by Raewyn Shirley and trained by her husband Brent for her first thirteen starts, before she was offered to Harris on lease.

“I’ve known Brent for a long time and when I travelled down south I stabled horses there. He offered her to lease because he thought she’d be suited to the grass tracks in Canterbury,” Harris said.

B Smart is out of the Santanna Blue Chip mare I Smart which won six races for the Shirleys. Harris races the mare with some of her original owners; Donna Proudman, Ross Anderson, Raewyn Shirley, Hamish and Hayley McLeod, Dean Fraser and Brent Harris.

Harris trains out of her partner John Morrison’s Ashburton barn and works for PGG Wrightson’s.

“I help John until 10 and then I work at PPG Wrightson doing service admin.”

In today’s race Dalgety gave B Smart the perfect trail behind leader Zia Bromac and when presented up the inside she finished too well, winning by a length. Zia Bromac held on for second.

B Smart winning at Oamaru (Monica Toretto Photo)

“I watched the race in Christchurch because I couldn’t make it down. I knew she was working well and I was pleased with her second a couple of weeks ago. I knew she’d get away well from the standing start so I knew she’d race handy enough.”

After the win (Monica Toretto Photo)

Harris says B Smart is in foal to Sweet Lou.

“I’m going to race her over Christmas time then retire her.”

This was Harris’s sixth win – three with B Smart and the other three with Grand Princess (The Pres).

“She’s a broodmare now. She has a yearling by Marcoola and is in foal to Royal Aspirations.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink