Racing: Star pacer faces big season

Christen Me, outer, will seek to add the NZ Cup to his CV in November. Photo / Dean Purcell

NZ Cup will be money-making machine Christen Me’s first chance to extend bank roll.

Christen Me's career is about to become even more serious as trainer Cran Dalgety aims to make him New Zealand's richest-ever harness horse.

The champion pacer is just six weeks away from racing but his next victory should be even sooner as he is favoured to win the Horse of the Year in Christchurch on August 8.

While he is already at the top of the pacing world, Christen Me is going to be asked for several more performances next season like the ones that won him the Miracle Mile, Victoria, Auckland and Easter Cups this term.

"I don't mean to sound like a dick considering what he did last campaign, but I am sure he is a better horse now," said Dalgety.

"He is bigger and stronger and I am sure he will be a better overall horse next season."

Dalgety said the same thing this time last year and was proved right as Christen Me was consistently the best pacer in Australasia.

Next term he will not only stand head and shoulders above the local open class ranks which will be missing Adore Me and Terror To Love, but has more weapons in his arsenal than Aussie hero Beautide.

This is why Dalgety has ambitious plans, which he hopes could see Christen Me double his career earnings of $2.2 million.

His first major aim will be the New Zealand Cup on November 10 and is almost certain to be followed by a shot at the Perth Inter Dominions, which begin in late November and culminate in a A$1.3 million final in December.

"Originally, I didn't think we could do both but now I do because he is so much stronger," says Dalgety.

"He is a great traveller and I plan to go after both of those carnivals and then just keep targeting the best races, with little four- or five-day freshen-ups when he needs them.

"He could go to those races then the Auckland Cup, Victoria Cup, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile [all of which he has won before].

"He had 14 starts this season but I think he could have 20 next term because he is a money-making machine so let's help him make some money."

Those six major targets alone are worth around $4 million and if Christen Me can even hold his form from this season, let alone improve as Dalgety suggests, he could pass Monkey King's $3,487,401 as New Zealand's richest-ever harness horse.

A dominant season could see him surge past $4 million in stakes as a 7-year-old.

"A decade or two ago, we thought 5- or 6-year-old were a horse's best seasons but in recent years we have seen so many horses race at their peak at 7, 8 or even 9.

"So he could be in for a lot of fun if he stays sound, because the money at the top is huge."

Christen Me is the $3 favourite for the New Zealand Cup, a race he blew at the start last season, while Australian TABs have him a $6 equal favourite with Beautide for the Inter Dominion.

"Being on our back doorstep, the Cup is the first really big race we are aiming at. I suppose we will take them one at a time after that," says Dalgety.

"But I'd love to win a New Zealand Cup and so would the owners and Dex [driver Dexter Dunn], so he will be there."

Meanwhile, no decision is expected soon on whether dual Inter Dominion champion and Christen Me's arch rival Beautide will make the trip from Sydney to Christchurch for the Cup, with the great stayer looking the biggest and some might say only major obstacle between Christen Me and New Zealand harness racing's holy grail.

Big season looms
•Record: 46 starts, 28 wins, 11 placings, $2,289,047.
•Major wins: Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup, Victoria Cup, Auckland Cup, Easter Cup, New Zealand Free-For-All, Messenger, Taylor Mile, Harness Jewels.
•Immediate programme: NZ Trotting Cup at Addington on November 10.