Stable thrilled with Roger That

Cran Dalgety hopes Roger That’s preparation for the group 1 Diamond Creek Farm Southern Bred Southern Reared Classic has not been too perfect.

The pacer is set to start a $1.65 favourite tomorrow in the fourth edition of the juvenile feature to be run at group 1 level.

That is a luxury position for the Dalgety stable to be in, considering it recently put New Zealand’s best 2-year-old pacer of the season so far, Tour Party, in the paddock.

While Roger That has not made a name for himself like his star stablemate just yet, Dalgety thinks he has the talent to forge his own path.

‘‘We trialled four 2-year-olds early in the season and there was not much between Roger That and Tour Party.’’

‘‘Tour Party obviously went north, whereas we had the feeling Roger That would really benefit from a wee freshen-up.

‘‘We are rapt that we did that because he’s come back that little bit stronger.

‘‘We have been thrilled with him since he’s been back.

‘‘He went down to Winton and ran well and got the experience of the trip down south before going back for the big one this week.’’

Part of the reason Roger That will start such a warm favourite is his securing a crucial advantage by drawing inside his main rival, the recent group 3 Kindergarten Stakes winner Chiggsy.

With near-perfect preparation and a perfect record at the races, Dalgety joked he is waiting for something to go wrong before the group 1 Diamond Creek Farm Southern Bred Southern Reared Classic.

‘‘Everything has gone perfectly with him the last few weeks and the draw probably continued that.

‘‘We are just about waiting for something to go wrong because, as everyone knows with horses, that can and will happen at
some stage.

‘‘It is a group 1 race and we look to be in a great spot, but we have been in enough of these now to know they are very hard to win.

‘‘It is a small field, but there are some very smart young horses there, so we will need to be on our game.’’

The Dalgety stable has a
two-pronged attack on tomorrow's’s group 1 feature as On Ya Bike is to start from barrier 1.

‘‘He got back in a bit of a dash home last start at Addington, so we are not reading too much into that.’’

‘‘His run in the Kindergarten Stakes was good and the one draw looks a huge bonus for him.’’

‘‘If he can follow the right one, he can get amongst it.’’

The Dalgety camp’s two 2-year-olds are part of their powerful Diamonds Day squad.

Marble Arch starts in the group 2 Alabar Southern Supremacy Final and Show Stopper and The Queen’s Gambit will compete in the group 2 Macca Lodge Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks Final.