Canterbury trainers to dominate Oamaru features

Canterbury harness racing trainers have a strong hand in heats of both the Nevele R/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks and the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes at Oamaru tomorrow.

Three training partnerships – Robert and Jenna Dunn, Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, and Steve and Amanda Telfer with Hayden Cullen, will each have a runner in the heat of the Oaks.

The Dunns will line up Mystify Me (Art Major) who’s drawn gate three, and John Dunn will take the drive.

“She’s always shown a bit of ability. She’s a big filly and it’s going to take a bit of time for her to fill into her frame. We do like her. She’s got a bit of bottom to her and she’s improving all the time. I think it’s a solid field without any super stars in it. From that nice handy draw, we think she could be a first four player in that race,” said co-trainer Robert Dunn.

Last start winner Black Pearl (Bettor’s Delight) will represent the Dalgetys. She’s drawn wide at barrier six in the filly’s feature. 

“She’s got a bit of Bettor’s Delight determination about her. She probably wasn’t entitled to win that race because she had an overlander trip and was parked. I thought it was a good effort to beat an older horse. She’s in the above average category, I hope she can come up to the top ten percent of her age group and I think she can,” said Cran Dalgety.

Rounding out the Canterbury presence in this race is Sweet Diamond (Sweet Lou) for the Telfer/Cullen team. She’s drawn two from the outside.

“She raced in a lot of the big races last season and performed well. She ran third in a strong race at Addington and has trained on really well since. Hayden took her for a quiet trial last week and was thrilled with the way she felt and the way she hit the line. It looks like a good race for her,” Steve Telfer said.

In the next race the three year old colts and geldings line up to qualify for the Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park in April.

The Dalgetys have two runners – Darby O’Gill (Rock N Roll Heaven) and Coney Island Lou (Sweet Lou).

Darby O’Gill was an impressive winner on debut but ran eighth at Addington on the 23rd of February.

“We had luck but the others had more luck, so we’ll turn the page. He’s green, having only two starts. But we’ll give him his opportunity,” Cran said.

Coney Island Lou broke in the same race and was never in contention after.

“It’s the first time he’s broken. He was a bit over enthusiastic that day. He got wound up in the prelim and wound up before the gate and tried to go out too fast and made a mistake. It’s another one we turn the page on and go again. Ohoka Connor looks big and powerful and he’s the one to be scared of.”

Ohoka Connor (Sunshine Beach) has impressively won both of his starts and is likely to start favourite for team Telfer/Cullen.

“He was recommended to us by Brett Gray and he hasn’t been wrong so far. He’s still got a bit to learn about racing but I couldn’t be more impressed with what he’s done so far. It’s winnable for him because he’s got the form on the board and trained on well. Although there are some nice ones in there he’s as good a chance as any,” Steve said.

The two Robert and Jenna Dunn runners have drawn the outside of the front line in the eight horse field.

Dalton Shard (Always B Miki) won two of his last three starts, and ran second to Ohoka Connor at his last start.

“Yes that horse is a very smart horse but Dalton Shard’s got a lot of up side to him. He looks to be a very strong staying type horse and bar the mistake he made at Invercargill he’s pretty solid. Korbyn (Newman) is having his first drive back for a while after being out with an injured hand so he’s driving Dalton Shard and Johnny (Dunn) is sticking with Double Time,” said Robert Dunn.

Double Time (A Rocknroll Dance) has won three of his last four starts. But in his last start two weeks ago at Addington, he finished in eighth place.

“He didn’t have any luck at all. Johnny was hoping that he might have got carted into it. As things worked out nothing moved and it was only a sprint home so it didn’t pan out. He is a horse that can stay and he’s got high speed. We’re looking forward to bringing them both down for the final.” 

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink