By Michael Guerin
When Cran Dalgety says a juvenile is the real deal it pays to listen.
Dalgety is one of the young guns of New Zealand training, having started his career with a superstar then followed with a string of topline youngsters.
Which means London Express must be a pretty special horse.
The muscular colt managed to sit parked outside hot favourite Adios Dream and still wear her down in the Cardigan Bay Stakes at Alexandra Park last night.
The race was the first serious juvenile race of the harness racing season and prompted driver Anthony Butt to declare London Express the best young pacer in the country.
"Obviously there are a lot of other juveniles to come out of the woodwork but of the ones we have seen so far, he looks the best at this stage," Butt said.
Butt has been so impressed during his three drives behind London Express that he was not even worried when forced to sit parked in the 1700m group two race which was cut out in a sub 1:59 mile rate.
And his enthusiasm for the colt's potential is only surpassed by that of Dalgety.
Dalgety started his career with a superstar in Laud, the 2-year-old who won his first race and went on to be voted Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year the next season.
"London Express would be the most naturally talented juvenile I have trained since Laud," Dalgety said.
"He looked like a real comer as a young horse when we bought him at the sales last season and he has continued to develop exactly how we wanted."
The win was especially satisfying for Dalgety as London Express is raced by the same connections as his brother, London Pride, who won the NHT Sales Series Pace at Alexandra Park last year.
"They have been very good owners and have not been scared to spend decent money so it is great to get a result for them."
While London Express looks the best young colt in the country, Adios Dream lost little in defeat.
The tiny filly looks more like an equine ballerina than a horse ready for the rough and tumble of open juvenile racing.
While she led easily, she ducked out in the straight and cost herself momentum.
She should get her reward when she takes on her own sex for the first time.
Just an hour later champion trotter Merinai supplied new trainer Mark Purdon with the surprise of his season with a stunning return win in the National Trot.
The mare looked destined for the retirement paddock after a career-threatening injury last month at Addington but was nursed back to her best by co-owner John
Bedwell before being sent to Purdon.
While she had pleased Purdon with her work at home, he expected her to be just one run short last night.
"That just goes to show what a great mare she is," Purdon said.
"That was a great field and to beat them at a stage of her campaign when she really still has some improvement in her was superb."
Purdon confirmed Merinai will now join his assault on the Moonee Valley summer carnival, along with star stablemates Buster Hanover and Sundon's Way.
Buster Hanover was the expensive failure of last night's race, getting locked away then galloping in the home straight when trying to close on the leader.
But all honours belonged to Merinai, who equalled stablemate Pride Of Petite's New Zealand mare's record for the 2700m mobile.
Horse Racing: Dalgety lauds next juvenile star
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