He is now favourite for this Saturday's A$400,000 Hunter Cup and the A$750,000 Inter Dominion on March 1 as he looks to complete a near-domination of our greatest races.
In the Hunter Cup he will be defending the title he won last season but trainer Dalgety says this year's version of Christen Me is a vastly superior pacer.
"Last year I wanted to win the Hunter Cup so I had a rug to put over his ribs, he was that skinny," said the Canterbury horseman.
"He really won the Hunter on heart last season because he was tired, he had had enough, which is why he missed the Inter Dominion a few weeks later.
"But that experience on the Grand Circuit last season made him, he is big and stronger now."
Christen Me first indicated that when he won the NZ Free-For-All three days after a gutbuster in the New Zealand Cup, so the rugged month ahead holds no fears for him.
The 6-year-old is developing a group one record his remarkable sire, Christian Cullen, would be proud of and looks more relaxed and strong enough to cope with the demands of the two rich staying tests ahead.
His win continued an amazing record at Melton for Dalgety and his regular driver Dexter Dunn, who have won two Victoria Cups, a Hunter Cup and four Breeders Crowns there in six years. They also won two of the support races on Saturday night with Bit Of A Legend, who also heads to the Hunter Cup, and Art Union, who upset Follow The Stars after the latter had a hard run in their heat of the Victoria Derby.
As good as Christen Me was on Saturday, he is still only marginally the favourite for the Hunter as Adore Me was a stupendous third.
She was three wide behind the disappointing Beautide for the last 1200m and made up four lengthsin the straight, remarkable considering the winner paced his last 800m in 54 seconds.
"She was fantastic and all we need is a good draw next week," said trainer-driver Mark Purdon.
Terror To Love never got into the race and ran on well through the pack. He will also be better suited by the Hunter.
The abject failure of the race was Beautide, who looked listless.
He didn't compete for the lead early, pulled a shoe mid-race and was found to be making irregular breathing noises after the race.
That saw stewards stand him down from racing until he passes a veterinary examination, which will need to be before the Inter Dominion heats on February 14, but his defence of that title is in huge trouble.
Kiwi domination
*Christen Me lands a huge plunge in the A$400,000 Victoria Cup.
*Fellow Kiwi star Adore Me was an enormous third and looms as the Hunter Cup danger.
*Trainer Cran Dalgety trained three winners at Melton, all driven by Dexter Dunn.
