Carter and Krug big winners

Young harness racing driver Carter Dalgety’s win today behind Krug (Bettor’s Delight) in the $100,000 Group One Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup was befitting of a driver far more senior than the young reinsman.

At the 3200 metre start Dalgety got the four year old stallion away beautifully so the first part of the test was passed with flying colours. 

“In his last stand in the NZ Cup he picked it beautifully and the 10 metre handicap wasn’t a big one today,” Carter said.

Krug settled fourth in the running line with Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) making the pace.

“The complexion of the race changed when the two hot pots (BD Joe and Self Assured) got back and the race turned to our favour. You try to pre-empt these races and you get one in a thousand right. I said to Carter to try and drive him so they have to catch you rather than you catch them and that unfolded after 100 metres when we settled in front of them,” co-trainer Cran Dalgety said.

With two laps to run Carter made his move, taking the lead and putting more distance between him and the two favourites. It proved to be the winning of the race.

With just over a lap to run Spankem started to move forward, bringing with him stable mate Self Assured and BD Joe.

At the 800 Carter had a handful of horse. 

“He was travelling unbelievable, and I was holding him back to them,” he said.

Dalgety had a good look over his shoulder at the 600. Krug was flying by the time he reached the 400 and nothing could make any ground on him. The winning margin was four and a quarter lengths with the last 800 metres run in 54.5 and the final 400 metres cut out in 27.2. Self Assured finished second with Macandrew Aviator running third.

KRUG REPLAY

“When you sit behind a horse of this quality you can do those sorts of things.”

Krug had fallen out of favour a bit after failing in both the Hannon and the New Zealand Cup, but his trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and son Carter never lost faith.

“We were happy with his health pre Cup Week and he’s better now. This horse takes a lot of maintenance health wise, and Carter spends a lot of time with him.”

And as Cran pointed out some smart young horses have an average year as a four year old.

“It’s just a buzz to get him back to feature as a Free for Aller. He was such a good two and three year old and then he had a hollow year at four when we took him too Australia. Master Mood was a prime example of how a horse can have a flat season. He was so dominant as a two and three year old and he came back at four and never got warm. As a five year old he won the New Zealand Cup and the Miracle Mile. So their four year old year is a growing year.”

Prior to the New Zealand Cup Cran made the call to put his young son up to drive in the country’s biggest race, after regular pilot Blair Orange committed to drive Copy That.

“Having Carter drive Krug in the New Zealand Cup I felt like I was under the guillotine because I was not only the trainer, but I was the father. I had to put my heart and head in two different areas, and it had to be a business decision. It was just unfortunate he got left parked for the last mile and it just became a non-event, but it’s hard to turn the page on the New Zealand Cup.”

But to Carter’s credit he’s put the New Zealand Cup run behind him and his first Group One win today showed what a very good young driver he is.

“He’s quite a deep thinker and tries to get as much information pre-event as he can. You know a bit about your own animal, but you’ve got to know a bit about your opposition. Blair’s been very good in helping him and he speaks to Dexter (Dunn) a lot – probably every ten days, so he tries to suck information out of the guns. He has come a long way in a short time, and I’ve probably put him under the blow torch a bit but I thought if he wasn’t capable, I’d stretch his learning time out.”

Cran was also very complimentary of the Invercargill Harness Racing Club hosting it’s first Group One feature today. 

“The whole crowd were excited pre and post event. I haven’t seen anything like it, and it was a hell of a buzz.”

Meanwhile in the Southland trainer’s premiership Brett Gray with two wins, took a one win lead over arch rival Nathan Williamson.

Ironically Williamson drove Gray’s second winner Joes Rock (Racing Hill) and Gray who’s regularly tagged Williamson as ‘the greatest of all time’ was quick to acknowledges his good mate’s contribution to the cause.  

“The GOAT is helping me out here. (laughter). He’s an awesome driver and it worked out great. I thought the horse might be short today. She’s got that wicked speed if you save her up and that was her sort of run. I’d like to freshen her up if I can but I’ll talk to the owners,” Gray said.  

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink