Josh Dickie - "I'd love to get to 1000 wins"

By Brigette Solomon 

Auckland-based driver Josh Dickie has another six opportunities to add to his career tally at Manawatu today, after bringing up his 500th win on Tuesday.

He has a number of each way chances including two for the Telfer training partnership, Adjournment (Race 4) and Rock Band (Race 5).

Both Telfer trained runners finished third in their respective races on Tuesday with Adjournment, who was having his first start, finishing just 1.2 lengths behind race winner Racie Dale.

“They both went good races on Tuesday,” said Dickie, “Adjournment did all the work in front and was only just caught in the straight and provided he backs up ok I think he’s a chance today. He has good manners and a bit of gate speed, so I’ll have plenty of options as to where I decide to be early.”

Rock Band starts from barrier four in the Goats Final Furlong Mobile Pace today and is another who was tough in defeat on Tuesday when finishing 1.25 lengths behind Rough And Ready.

“Rock Band had to work to the lead and stuck to his guns well, it was a good run from him,” said Dickie, “I think he’ll be better suited to the second day as he got round well and will just be that bit fitter for the run, he’s definitely a winning chance today.”

Dickie celebrated his 500th driving success with another Telfer-trained runner in Ideal Crunch.

“I’m over the moon to be honest, it’s a pretty big milestone to achieve,” said Dickie, “I’d been aware that I was sitting on 499 for a couple of weeks but kept running seconds, so I’m really rapt to get the win."

The three-year-old filly Ideal Crunch was the favourite in the Mel’s 70th Birthday Bash Thursday Mobile Pace with Dickie sending the filly forward to lead and it was where he remained from start to finish, with Dickie rating Ideal Crunch perfectly to hold off the place getters Bell Fire and Frankie to score the win by a neck. It was the Captain Crunch filly’s first win at just her third start.

“Although she only won by a small margin she won it comfortably and will probably be happier on a bigger track,” said Dickie, “She’s only new to racing and has had a couple of trips away which is why she’s not backing up today but she’s worth following in the future.”

“It’s not easy to drive 500 winners anywhere, especially up here in the North Island where we generally race once a week so have limited opportunities, plus there is a real depth of good drivers up here,” said Dickie.

“I’d love to one day get 1000 driving wins and it’s something that I once thought was a bit far-fetched, but now I’ve got to 500 it feels a bit more achievable.”

The talented driver is best known for his association with the top line trotter and now stallion, Speeding Spur, who he drove and trained in partnership with his father John Dickie.

“Speeding Spur would be amongst my most memorable wins particularly the New Zealand Free For All and Rowe Cup,” said Dickie, “I drove him to 23 of his 24 wins in Australasia, it’s actually pretty surreal to look back on how amazing it was be to be involved with a horse of his ability.”

Race one gets underway today at 4.27pm.