Racing: Hard task for Christen Me

Just when Cran Dalgety thought he had escaped the Hunter Cup frying pan last week, he's back into the fire with a wide barrier draw at Menangle this Saturday.

Dalgety's stable star Christen Me was the best of the Kiwi pacers in a torrid Hunter Cup, running fourth, but it has taken its toll on the 6yr-old.

Dalgety, who was in Otago yesterday for the second day of the Southern Bred Southern Reared yearling tour, rued a tough barrier draw of 10, which will become barrier 8 after the emergencies are withdrawn for the supplementary heat.

''It's not perfect, but it looks like Easy On The Eye is the probable leader,'' Dalgety said.

''It might be good to drive him cold, but then again, we've got to finish in the first three. If we go back last, we've got nine horses to get past, so that's a mission.''

Christen Me has copped the worst draw of the three New Zealand representatives.

Terror To Love is set to start from barrier 6 after withdrawals and Dalgety's other runner, Bit Of A Legend, leaves the gate from barrier 4.

Christen Me has taken time to recover from his fourth in Saturday's staying test, which Dalgety describes as one of his charge's best runs.

''He was shagged the next day - we know that,'' he said.

''It was a funny race. He finished fourth and looked disappointing but it was probably one of the better efforts he put in all his life.

"When you look at the other three mid-race movers, they were all 30 to 40m behind [the field].''

But Dalgety admits a little more time between two tough tests would have been preferable.

''With the timing of going into the Interdoms, we'd love two weeks [between the Hunter Cup and the heats],'' he said.

''But because of the way it's set up, we have to go [to Menangle] for the supplementary heat. We've had to race, lie down for two days, have a 10-hour road trip then race again this Saturday.

''So it's a little bit of a task but we can't do anything about it, we've just got to do the best we can.''

Despite the short turnaround and Christen Me's wide draw, Australian bookmakers have opened Christen Me at $1.75 to win his heat ahead of Terror To Love ($3.80).

Defending champion Beautide is at $2.10 to win the New South Wales heat after lobbing barrier 3 (after withdrawals), ahead of Suave Stuey Lombo at $3.

Dalgety has put Art Union's Victoria Derby disaster well behind him as he eyes up heats for the the New South Wales classic next week.

Art Union's Derby hopes were dashed when Artistic Flite locked sulky stays with him and the pair finished a distant last.

''The way the race unfolded with where he was and what he was doing, we were confident he would run third.

''All we can do is pick up our toys and have another go for the New South Wales Derby with the heats next week.''