Cran Dalgety is expecting life to be a little tougher for Christen Me tomorrow night at Addington.
The West Melton horseman is still heading into the slight unknown as he builds towards the second Tuesday in November with his star pacer, but is taking every day as it comes and hoping for the best.
Unsighted since his very good fresh up second behind Franco Nelson in the New Brighton Cup, Christen Me will return to Addington tomorrow night for the Canterbury Classic an improved horse.
But Dalgety knows he will have to be.
“It’s a completely different ball game this week,” Dalgety said.
“Everyone is going to be improved and I don’t think things will be quite as quiet as they were from Mark and Natalie’s three.
“So we are going to have to be better without doubt, but my guy has definitely improved off that first run.”
As he builds towards the New Zealand Trotting Cup, Dalgety still doesn’t have a firm plan on where he is headed post tomorrow night but it is likely it could be Christen Me’s final race before the big show.
Ashburton is looking less and less likely while Kaikoura is being bandied about but doesn’t seem a serious option so the Cup Trial could be the next time he’s seen publicly.
“We don’t have to keep the work up to him as much these days, being an older horse he doesn’t take a lot to get back to fitness.
“So we just keep him ticking over really.”
Christen Me was able to take full advantage of a smart beginning in the New Brighton Cup to find the lead and although the camp weren’t really that keen on leading up in their first run – the race panned out quite well and it was only the sheer speed of Franco Nelson who sat on his back that saw him defeated.
A winner of this race three years ago, Christen Me finished third to Terror To Love in 2015 and then was third behind Tiger Tara last year.
Dalgety has the added bonus of another runner in the race with Mighty Flying Mac joining the fray this week.
He returns after a stint on the beach with Robert Dunn during which he raced strongly during the later stages of last season.
Blair Orange will take the drive on the horse this week off the back of some handy workout and trial performances.
Bookmakers opened up Lazarus a $2 favourite for the Canterbury Classic last night off the back of his impressive third in the New Brighton Cup. Have Faith In Me holds the next line in betting at $3.60 while Locharburn, Smolda, Christen Me and Franco Nelson are all next at $8.50.
Matt Markham