Racing: Crown Kings to strike again with Cup hope

Harness racing's men of the moment prefer to look ahead rather than rest on their laurels and that starts at Addington tonight.

Dexter Dunn and Cran Dalgety capped massive seasons last term with Smiling Shard's epic win in the A$311,000 Breeders Crown Juvenile in Australia last Sunday.

But with Smiling Shard now heading to the paddock and not around for New Zealand Cup time, both men are already looking to their next potential big-race hope.

And that could be Bettor's Strike, who takes his first steps on the road to the New Zealand Cup in the handicap pace at Addington tonight.

The 5-year-old hasn't raced since finishing sixth in Auckland Reactor's Harness Jewels race at Ashburton on May 30 and meets key rivals like Bondy and Eric's Legend who have more recent racing under the belts.

But both Dalgety and Dunn believe Bettor's Strike can not only prevail tonight but maybe win his way into the $1 million New Zealand Cup on November 10.

"He trialled well last week and he is a naturally fit horse so I wouldn't be surprised if he won," said Dunn.

"But I will probably drive him for one run at them, being his first start back, so that means he will need some luck in the running."

Dalgety believes Bettor's Strike has the manners to be a New Zealand Cup horse.

"He is up to racing them, whether he is up to beating the Cup horses that remains to be seen.

"But that is the aim at the moment. Still, he would need to win or go close this week to suggest to us the Cup is the right aim."

Bondy is a logical danger tonight, having already made his mark as an open class horse.

He returned from injury with two big wins over the winter but was only average at the trials last week.

He faces a tricky assignment from the 20m handicap, although the small field helps.

Eric's Legend was powerful winning in a far weaker grade last Friday but needs to step quickly from the stand to make the most of his advantage in the handicaps.

Dunn and Dalgety already lead the national premierships this season and they have become favourites with punters.

Dunn, in particular, can slash a horse's price simply by hopping behind it and he rates Romulus (race five) and The Fat Controller (race six) as his other two best chances on the night.

Romulus, winner of two of his five starts, was run off his feet from a difficult draw last week but looks better placed tonight, while Dunn believes The Fat Controller can overcome his 20m backmark in a strong field for the main trot.

"He trialled well last week and has a lot of speed," said Dunn.

"But I'll need to drive him better than last time because I had a shocker then."

TOP TEAM

* Trainer Cran Dalgety and driver Dexter Dunn lead the national premierships.
* That comes on top of a major group one success in Australia last Sunday.
* They combine with Bettor's Strike at Addington tonight.
* The 5-year-old is being aimed at the New Zealand Cup.