Racing: Christen Me sizzles in trial

Although he has drawn badly on Tuesday, Caribbean Blaster trialled well last night. Photo / Stuart McCormick

Christen Me wrenched favouritism for next Tuesday's New Zealand Trotting Cup back from arch rival Terror To Love with a destructive Cup trial win at Addington last night.

The long-time favourite lost that position after an uncharacteristic gallop at Ashburton last week, which coupled with Terror To Love's national record win, saw the latter promoted to favouritism by the TAB.

But anybody who watched last night's 2600m trial, which contained four of the Cup favourites, now knows only one pacer deserves top billing heading into Tuesday's race.

Christen Me flew away from behind the tapes and soon led before driver Dexter Dunn chose to trail Franco Ledger, with Victoria Cup winner Caribbean Blaster next and Terror To Love last after being slower away.

In need of a proper hitout after effectively not becoming involved after his gallop at Ashburton, Christen Me pulled out of the trail at the 600m and streaked clear at the top of the straight to finish 4 lengths in front untouched.

He paced the 2600m in a slick 3:13.8, a 2:0 mile rate, his last 800m in 54.8, the final 400m in 26.5, with Caribbean Blaster second and Terror To Love not asked for his best, hard on the runner-up's back.

While next Tuesday's race will be noisier, more hyped and with the bigger field putting pressure on the congested front line, trainer Cran Dalgety plans to counter that by plugging Christen Me's ears to the point of silence.

He has drawn barrier two, which may not be ideal as he will have to come into line early and the start can be a drawn-out affair. But if he begins as quickly as he did last night the Cup is now his to lose.

Terror To Love did nothing overly wrong last night and put him in front and Christen Me last of the pack and they may have finished in similar positions ... maybe.

So whoever wins the start on Tuesday might win our greatest pacing race but in a market they will dominate like hardly any NZ Cup before, Christen Me is now the $2.10 favourite with Terror To Love out to $2.50.

Another to impress at the trials was Adore Me, who won easily in a standing start and takes on some strong older male rivals in the free-for-all on Tuesday, while Cyclone Prince trialled well just hours after getting the prime ace draw for the Sires' Stakes Finals.

Fields for the three group ones at Addington on Tuesday are:

R6 NZ Trot F-F-A, $80,000, 2000m mobile: Cyclone U Bolt (1), Pink Diamond (2), Vulcan (3), Jags Invasion (4), Peak (5), The Fiery Ginga (6), Quality Invasion (7), Harry Johnson (8), Burano (9), King Charlie (10), Monnay (11), Uncas (12), Flying Isa (13), Clover Don (14), Boizel (15), Phil's Gift (16). Emgs: Harry Johnson, Pink Diamond.

R7 Sires' Stakes Final, $180,000, 1950m mobile: Cyclone Prince (1), Hawkeye Bromac (2), Nota Lada (3), Emmanuel (4), Return To Sender (5), Tiger Tara (6), Someardensomewhere (7), Pay Me Mach (8), Dean Martin (9), Bettor Offer (10), Bio Marinus (11), Regulus (12), Explosive Art (13), Isaiah (14), Alleluia (15). Emergencies: Nota Lada, Explosive Art.

R10 5.15pm: NZ Trotting Cup, $650,000, 3200m: Choise Achiever (1), Easy On The Eye (2), Christen Me (3), Jimmy Johnstone (4), Four Starzzz Flash (5), Mah Sish (6), Terror To Love (7), Fly Like An Eagle (8), Jason Rulz (9), Pembrook Benny (10), Highview Tommy (11), Phantom Grin (12), Pass Them By (13), Caribbean Blaster (14), Franco Ledger (15), Suave Stuey Lombo (ur1), Sleepy Tripp (ur2), Mach Banner (ur3). Emgs: Pass Them By, Phantom Grin, Choise Achiever.