By Jonny Turner
One heated battle went unnoticed during the excitement of New Zealand Cup Week.
A crucial move in the National Junior Drivers’ Premiership has made it all the more important that Carter Dalgety hits the road again and heads to Ascot Park on Wednesday.
Dalgety now sits eight wins behind leader Wilson House after the latter racked up six wins during Cup Week.
House reined home a winner on both New Zealand Cup Day and Show Day while also taking out four races at Manawatū.
Dalgety won just the one race last week but it was a good one – the Group 1 Sires Stakes Fillies Championship with All Of Me.
Dalgety has been a regular visitor to Southland throughout the season and the region is set to play a pivotal role in his quest to chase down House’s lead.
“I have been loving the trips down to Southland, the people are great and the racing is competitive.”
“I have been getting a lot of good support down there which I am obviously very grateful for.”
“I have built up a few associations and a few drives, so I just keep coming back.”
Dalgety takes six drives on the nine-race twilight card at Ascot Park on Wednesday.
Xerion opened the short-priced favourite in Race 8, the Speeding Spur – The Trotting Titan Handicap Trot (7.39pm) on the back of his fresh-up second in a heat of last week’s World Driving Championship.
“He went great last week and he probably won’t have to go a lot better to be a great chance.”
“He’s off the 10m over 2200m but there are only two horses off the front so hopefully it won’t be too much of a worry.”
Dalgety also links up with a short-priced prospect in Okiwi Bay in Race 4, the Bettors Delight – The King Junior Drivers Mobile Pace (5.20pm).
“She’s run third to one of ours (Justyouwait) at Ashburton which looks very good form for a race like this.”
“You’d think she would have to be a nice chance.”
Dalgety also links up with Itsallaboutthemoney, who he has won with before at Ascot Park, in Race 9, The Woodlands Stud Thanks Southland Breeders Mobile Pace (8.09pm).
“Probably forget her last start, her runs before that were solid enough and she gets into the right kind of grade on Wednesday to be a top-4 hope.”
Outback Man has the game to compete well for Dalgety but he is only second-up and taking on hardened horses.
The junior driver also drives Tillaberi who has the motor to match it with her rivals.
However, the mare comes off the unruly and must negotiate the often tricky barrier one spot in her standing-start assignment.
