That was until he checked the acceptances for the $35,000 feature, which produced more than a few surprises.
Last year’s Hannon Memorial winner began his march towards the New Zealand Trotting Cup with a very meritorious sixth behind Lazarus in last week’s Canterbury Classic.
The only problem is another All Stars Stables talent rolling off the conveyor belt and landing in Methven alongside an in-form stablemate.
"Considering they went a 26.9 quarter and he made a little bit of ground, it was quite encouraging against that lot," Dalgety said about Mighty Flying Mac’s fresh-up sixth.
"Maybe there was a bit more light at the end of the tunnel but we were heading along to Methven then Smolda jumped in there as well as Titan Banner, so we’re up against it a wee bit.
"But I think he could run third to them anyway."
Titan Banner, a stayer in the making if he is not already there, comes into tomorrow’s group 3 on the back of top trials form, while Smolda was excellent in third behind Lazarus last week.
Mighty Flying Mac starts alongside Smolda off the back mark of 30m, although Dalgety sees the handicap as no major challenge.
"He is a quick beginner, so he’ll make up his handicap quickly anyway.
"He’ll go very good — he’s lifted a little bit from his last race. Logic would say he would have, he should have and he has."
The presence of the All Stars pair brings plenty of interest to the 3000m staying test, but not nearly as much as the presence of trotter Valmagne in the field.
Trotters lining up in pacing races are rare enough, but inquiries yesterday revealed if Valmagne takes his place in the group 3, he will be the first trotter to take on a pacing group race in New Zealand since Scotch Tar ran eighth to Bonnie’s Chance in the 1982 New Zealand Cup.
The most recent trotter to take on any pacing race was the Steve Ashton-trained Sunnivue Son, which lined up against the pacers at Gore and Ascot Park in December 2010.
Valmagne has won four races on grass tracks, but it would be an upset of mammoth proportions — and would have the connections of some New Zealand Cup hopefuls in tomorrow’s race reconsidering their options — if he filled a placing.
A placing is probably the best Dalgety can hope for with Fifth Edition, who starts off 20m in the cup.
"He’s bit of an understudy to the top three," he said.
"It’s his first start back from a layoff and he’s had just the one trial, so there are a few things against him, but you can only get race practice by being in a race.
"Being the grade he’s in, this is the best opportunity for him. He’ll go good, but I can’t say he’ll be dividend-bearing at this stage."
