Dalgety starts defence of NZ Junior Driver Championships

By Michael Guerin

Carter Dalgety’s defence of his New Zealand Junior Driver Championship title will soon be followed up by the sporting trip of a lifetime.

Dalgety has a good book in the three juniors races at Alexandra Park tonight which start the series before four more races decide it at Ashburton on Sunday.

Dalgety won the title last year and is the TAB’s $5 second favourite behind Crystal Hackett ($3.50) to win it again. 

But while he is looking forward to trying to defend his title Dalgety admits a very different campaign is already on his mind. 

“I am actually taking three weeks off from mid-August as I am going to South Africa to follow the All Blacks,” says the former First 15 rugby player. 

“I am going with a couple of mates and it is something pretty special to look forward to as people know I love my rugby.

“So that will be why punters don’t see me driving for a few weeks soon.”

While winning the Junior Driver’s Champs may not be quite the scale of challenge as the All Blacks face, Dalgety says it is not an easy series to claim.

“Obviously the horses are drawn randomly so you need some luck to start with,” he says.

“And then for race like the three at Alex Park on Friday I have to do a bit more research than I do for races down here as I don’t drive against those horses every week.”

Dalgety starts his defence with Wynberg Janie (R2, No.8) who has at least a place chance in a weakish race, with Hackett looking to have the best of the drives in the consistent Memories (R2, No.10).

He partners clearly the trotter to beat in Two Francs (R4, No.6) in the second heat as the free-goer will love the mobile 2200m.

He broke 2:45 for that trip four starts ago and has raced in stronger fields lately and while he can be a bit quirky if he trots up to his best form he should win.

Nikita Burton has secured the drive on one of the other form horses in the race in Mad Mary while Harrison Orange will partner the in-form Santapazienza, although the latter may not be suited by his second line draw.

Dalgety’s last leg drive tonight is the consistent Franco Salah (R5, No.5) who has the benefit of being able to race on the speed while the three other favourites for that race have all drawn the second line.

“He looks a good staying type so I’d imagine we’d be going forward on him and he should be a good each way chance.”

Another Collect for Mia Holbrough is favourite for that leg although not perfectly suited by the second line draw while Seth Hill gets a good winning chance with Debrief on the track which has bought him the biggest win of his career so far, the Pascoes Northern Oaks with Cath on May 1.

Tonight’s meeting also sees a good tight class race with Rubira versus Jeremiah and Little Spike in Race 7 over 1700m.