Racing: Could be a Legend in the making

HOBART - Cran Dalgety has leg problems heading into Sunday's A$1.5 million Interdominion Final with London Legend.

Not the horse's legs. They couldn't be any better days before the biggest race of his life.

The Canterbury trainer is worried about his own legs after a radical change to his training philosophy for this series.

When Dalgety left Melbourne with London Legend three weeks ago he didn't bother taking a training sulky or a stopwatch, opting instead to ride the gelding every day.

"The only time he has been in a sulky since we got here is race night," said Dalgety. "All his other work has been done with me riding him alongside the gallopers at the beach.

"He is loving it but I haven't ridden every day since I was 15 years old so my legs are killing me."

That pain has already paid dividends for Dalgety with London Legend, once rated a $200 chance to win the series, making the final 13 with a shot at harness racing's richest prize.

London Legend has always had the speed and class to be a player in the big time but has lacked mental and physical toughness.

"Me riding him, especially because I am 86kg, has strengthened him up and it has kept him mentally fresh.

"That is one reason he has come through the series so well."

London Legend flew home from near last in his heat last Sunday and faces a similar scenario in Sunday's final after drawing the second line.

"The draw doesn't look ideal but he isn't the sort of horse you can do too much work on early anyway," said Dalgety.

"So we have to sit back, hope they go hard and then take some shortcuts on the way home.

"I might be biased but the way he is racing at the moment I think he can get some of it with some luck."

Finding that luck from back in the field around the tight Elwick track might require a miracle and Dalgety believes he has just the miracle worker required in driver Gavin Lang.

"He is Australia's answer to Tony Herlihy and there is nobody I'd rather have on the horse."

London Legend is still rated as long as $41 with some Australian bookmakers and while he faces a huge task to win he could be the upset place hope in a race where so many other horses are going to burn early.

While Dalgety's main focus this week has been on London Legend he will pause tomorrow night to watch his other stable star, Mombassa, in one of the most eagerly-anticipated races of the New Zealand season.

Mombassa is Elsu's half-brother and was the yearling sales topper at Karaka last season.

He has looked worth every cent of his $155,000 purchase this season but meets northern power pacer Gotta Go Cullen in tomorrow night's Welcome Stakes at Addington.

"I am very happy with my fella and the reports from home are good but Gotta Go Cullen looks something rather special.

"I don't know how we are going to beat him, but we will be trying," he said.