Christen Me’s raring to go

Open class pacer Christen Me makes his return to racing in the $30,000 Rangiora Classic on Sunday.

A viral issue in his lungs and heart is thought to be the reason for him not showing his best in the spring. He missed the New Zealand Cup meeting in November and the summer Group races.

Christen Me ran third in the Canterbury Classic at Addington on October 9 at his last start. West Melton trainer Cran Dalgety has given Christen Me two trials in this preparation for a win at Addington on Monday and a third at Ashburton six days earlier. Christen Me beat Golden Goddess and Dream About Me in the sevenhorse Addington trial. Christen Me was parked for the last 800m and won by a head without be asked for a serious effort. He ran the last 800m in 56sec and 400m in 27.4.

‘‘He’s as fit as I can get him from home and at trials,’’ Dalgety said on Friday. ‘‘He worked enormous this morning.’’

Dalgety will decide after Sunday’s race on whether to take Christen Me to Brisbane for winter racing. The horseman has won the Rangiora Classic three times with London Legend (twice) and Bettor’s Strike.

The Classic will be Locharburn’s last race for the season. Locharburn has a proud record this term of four wins, a second and a third from six starts. Highlights have been winning the Group I Easter Cup at Addington two starts back and his national record in the Group III Summer Cup on the Christchurch track in February.

Amberley trainer Kevin Chapman intends to turn Locharburn out for three weeks.

‘‘He’s a bull [entire] and coming up six. The last thing I want is to get him big and heavy.’’

Chapman will map out a program aimed at the New Zealand Cup for Locharburn. The horseman is also thinking about campaigning Locharburn in Australia next season. Impressive laststart Addington winner Mighty Flying Mac will also line up.