Smiling Shard (Dexter Dunn) in his final New Zealand
Trotting Cup workout at West Melton yesterday. Photo by
Tayler Strong.
CHRISTCHURCH: Smiling Shard was passed fit by racing
officials to start in the $600,000 New Zealand Cup tomorrow
after a bold workout at West Melton yesterday.
Stewards ordered the fitness test after Smiling Shard
displayed lameness after his win in the Kaikoura Cup last
Monday.
Trainer Cran Dalgety was not concerned.
"He often walks like a tin soldier after his races. It is a
tying up thing," he said.
Racing Integrity Unit stewards Cameron George (chief) and
Nigel McIntyre and their appointed veterinarian, Tania Hill,
were on hand for the workout yesterday on the property of
Dalgety.
"He felt really great. He is not a good track worker," Dexter
Dunn, the driver of Smiling Shard, said after the workout.
Dalgety said Smiling Shard had improved since Kaikoura.
"He has tightened and toned and looks like an athlete," he
said.
Smiling Shard ran 2400m in 3.15, the last 800m in 61 with a
galloping prompter, Emaline Franco, driven by Dalgety.
He was then given swimming.
Smiling Shard is on target to add to his record of 17 wins
and 20 placings in 46 starts for $1,116,323.
Winner of the Breeders' Crown Final and Harness Jewels as a
2yr-old and a Yearling Sales race at 3, Smiling Shard was
placed at the top level as a 4yr-old last season with a
second to Stunin Cullen in the Hunter Cup (3280m) at Melton
and a fourth in the Interdominion Final at Alexandra Park
behind Smoken Up, Imthemightyquinn and Blacks A Fake.
Dalgety has being doing things differently with his other Cup
candidate, Bettor's Strike, in a bid to get him refocused.
"He has looked like winning his last start in the Canterbury
Classic and then he has turned off. I am trying to change his
thinking," Dalgety said.
Bettor's Strike has been ridden by Shane McCann at the
Riccarton stable of Peter and Dawn Williams and popped over
pony jumps.
Bettor's Strike won the 2009 Victoria Cup and finished second
to Monkey King in the New Zealand Cup that year. He was
subsequently close to death after a severe scouring
complaint.
Auckland Reactor worked to the satisfaction of co-trainer
Mark Purdon at Rolleston yesterday morning.
"I don't envisage any problem when he works for the Racing
Integrity Unit in the morning," Purdon said.
Purdon was not hopeful last Wednesday that Auckland Reactor
would be able to start in the New Zealand Cup. The entire has
been troubled by a cut to the coronet of his right foreleg
sustained in the Ashburton Flying Stakes when he lost a
plate.
"He worked 2400m in 3.10, the last 800m in 57.4 this morning.
It was a solid workout," Purdon said.
"He did feel it [the foot] for the first 500 or 600m but he
was OK after that."
The Fiery Ginga, who regained winning form at Wyndham
yesterday, will head to Christchurch tomorrow for the NZ
Trotting Free-For-All.
"I was expecting a win today. I knew he was spot on after his
trial at Forbury Park on Monday," Allan Clark, his East
Taieri owner-trainer, said. "If he couldn't beat those today
he wouldn't be worth taking to Addington." Trainer Tim Butt
and reinsman Anthony Butt combined to win the $A70,000
Newcastle Mile with Raglan and a heat of the Smoken Up
Championship with Trojan at Newcastle on Saturday night.
Raglan ran 1.54.9 compared with the race record of 1.52.8 set
by Pay Me Christian in 2006. He won by a neck from Mr
Feelgood.
Trojan, owned by John Hamilton, of Alexandra, rated 1.58.2
for 2030m (mobile).
The Butt stable has Choise Achiever in the New Zealand Cup
tomorrow.
Results from the trials at Methven on Saturday
Qualifying test, pacers, 2400m (first heat): Van West G
O'Reilly 1; Faith Philly 2; Signofrain 3. Five started. Ns; 7
1/2L. Time, 3.20.3 (two qualified). Trainers, D and S Breed.
Second heat: Sea Captain K Coutts 1; Danny's Pic 2; Donegal
Pipesofpan 3. Four started. 1 3/4L; 8L. Time, 3.22.3 (none
qualified).
Qualifying test, trotters, 2400m: Tyron Lochie P O'Reilly 1;
Starview Soul 2; Starry Eyed 3. Three started. 5L; 1 1/2L.
Time, 3.24.5 (three qualified). Trainers, D and S Breed.
0w pacers, 2400m (first heat): Towney D Johnston 1; Nor West
Star 2; Shesa Roman Holme 3. Ten started. 1/2nk; hd. Time,
3.20.4. Trainer, D Johnston.
Second heat: Rhuben R May 1; Jayesbe 2; Franco Hepburn 3.
Nine started. Nk; ns. Time, 3.15.2. Trainer, B Waldron.
Third heat: Micky Blue Eyes R May 1; Sounds Like us 2; Most
Happy Dancer 3. Nine started. 1L; 2L. Time, 3.16.5. Trainer,
T May.
0w trotters, 2400m (first heat): Mayweather M Hay 1; Go Ado
Go 2; Tony Christie 3. Nine started. 2L; 1L. Time, 3.20.4.
Trainer, J Hay.
Second heat: Another Love C Middleton 1; Sundon Castleton 2;
Zoom By 3. Eight started. Lg nk; 1L. Time, 3.23.1. Trainer, C
Middleton.
1w, pacers, 2400m: Storm's Rule R May 1; Kusadasi 2; The
Pioneer 3. Seven started. 1/2nk; 1 1/4L. Time, 3.19. Trainer,
C Kennedy.
2w pacers, 2400m: False Promise K Coutts 1; Rangi Rule 2;
Tarport Spirit 3. Six started. 1 1/4L; 1L. Time, 3.19.8.
Trainer, K Coutts.
1w+ pacers, 2400m: Quality Invasion 10 G Archer 1;
Brawlinwiththeboys 2 fr 2; Taimate Boyz 10 3. Nine started. 2
1/2L; 1/2L.Time, 3.16.9. Trainer, B Graham.
3w+ pacers, 2400m: Bushfire fr L O'Reilly 1; McKay 10 2;
Empire Flame 10 3. Five started. Nk; 1L. Time, 3.11.3.
Trainer, L O'Reilly.
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