Racing: Christen Me should be red hot

Dexter Dunn drives Christen Me (outer) to victory in the Auckland Cup last year. Photo / Dean Purcell

Comeback pacing hero Christen Me could remind his little sister how it is done at Addington this afternoon.

The reigning Horse of the Year should have little problem winning his second start back this campaign since a mystery virus wiped out his summer hopes.

He equalled the national 2600m record beating Locharburn at Rangiora three weeks ago and trainer Cran Dalgety says he will strip a fitter horse against weaker opposition in race 7 today. "He has definitely come on," says Dalgety.

"He is working great and hopefully we can get another race into him next week as well then head off to Aussie."

Dalgety does have one slight warning for punters, he doesn't expect driver Dexter Dunn to blast the gate and lead today, instead driving the $2.4 million earner for speed.

"We drove him aggressive early fresh up to get in front of Locharburn and it worked but I think he can beat these horses for speed."

While Christen Me will be red-hot today his younger half sister Dream About Me could find herself in the rare position of being challenged for favouritism in the $140,000 Nevele R Fillies Final.

She was beaten for the first time by stablemate Golden Goddess last start and looks like she could be going through the awkward growing or maturing phase that affects almost all young pacers are some stage.

Drawn outside Golden Goddess she appears to have two choices - sit off her and be outsprinted in a race lacking pressure, or lead with her stablemate on her back and be vulnerable up the passing lane.

So while Dream About Me may have more raw class, Golden Goddess deserves favouritism today.

The premier meeting will be only the second time Christen Me and Dream About Me have raced on the same programme and the last time resulted in dual group race success.

That was Auckland Cup night last year when Christen Me won the Cup and Dream About was a five-length winner of the group two Delightful Lady Classic.

The draws also make it impossible to go past More The Better in today's richest race, the $200,000 Sales Series Pace, with the colt looking the best of this crop so far and having the ace.