Mighty effort by Flying Mac
Trainer Cran Dalgety finally won the Hannon Memorial free-for-all at Oamaru yesterday — with a 33-1 outsider, Mighty Flying Mac.
Christen Me, a stablemate of Mighty Flying Mac, was backed down to $1.20 favourite and reached the lead inside the final 200m but Mighty Flying Mac gunned him down to win by half a length.
Mighty Flying Mac had raced close up in the open and received cover at the 1200m when another stablemate Bit Of A Legend improved to outside the pacemaker, Mossdale Conner. Christen Me was back in 10th place and improved three wide from the 1000m into a stiff southerly wind.
‘‘He [Christen Me] went good. It was hard work into the wind but the other horse was just too good on the day,’’ said Dexter Dunn, the driver of Christen Me.
Dalgety agreed: ‘‘He just had to work harder than the opposition to get in a challenging position.’’
Robbie Holmes, who drove Mighty Flying Mac, was more than happy with the way the race unfolded.
‘‘I was in the open but thought I would get cover at some stage and it came at the right time. He was really travelling well on the home turn.’’
Dalgety had early had second placings in the Hannon with Four Starzzz Flash (2013), London Legend (2006) and Scorching (2004) and a third and fourth from six starters in the race in 25 years as a trainer.
Mighty Flying Mach is raced by the No Risk syndicate with Chrissy Dalgety, wife of the trainer. The syndicate is managed by David Archer, of Auckland. He gained prominence as the managing owner of the thoroughbred Mufhasa, winner of 10 Group I races and $3.6 million in stakes. Mighty Flying Mac has now won 12 races and $174,000.
The win has earned him a rerating for the $750,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup in November. He is currently at 31 in the ratings.
‘‘I am thrilled, I still can’s believe he won,’’ Chrissy Dalgety said.
Cran purchased Mighty Flying Mac as a yearling on behalf of the syndicate.
Mighty Flying Mac ran the 2600m n 3.14.8 yesterday, the last 800m in 55.6. His time compared with the race record of 3.13.4 set by Cullen’s Creek in 2010.
Mighty Flying Mac and stablemate Bit Of A Legend will now go to the Avon City Ford Cup at Addington on September 25. Dalgety said Christen Me will be reserved for the Canterbury Classic on October 9.
Mossdale Conner did well for third in the Hannon after leading. He finished a nose ahead of Bettor Dream with half a head to Franco Harrington.
Savea Patrol was scratched after a recurrence of a tendon injury.
‘‘It is the tendon in the same leg he had the problem but he is only six so there is time for it to heal,’’ owner Grant Hatton said.