Krug (NZ) Challenges Group Two Feature Sponsored by NZB Airfreight

NZB Standardbred graduate and multiple Group One winner, Krug (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), will test himself against the best in the $50,000 Group Two NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes (2400m) on Monday 25 October. 

Following his purchase as a $155,000 yearling at the 2019 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, Krug was a star among his age group from the moment he hit the track and has now earned $566,645 in prizemoney to date.

Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, who purchased the colt from Smolenski Stable’s draft under their Kentuckiana Lodge banner, are confident Krug is up to the task as he steps into Open Class racing for the first time in the NZB Airfreight sponsored 2400 metre feature.

“First up in a race of this quality is no easy task, but we certainly wouldn’t be lining him up if we didn’t think he could be very competitive,” Cran Dalgety said.

“He has a few new challenges there, it is his first standing start and his first time against the older horses who have had a lot more racing experience.

“But we have been thrilled with the way he has come up, his trial at Addington last week was good.

“One thing we do know is that he is very fast and if he were to get away well enough and got into a handy spot, he will certainly be going with them at the finish,” he said.

Krug’s team will target the New Zealand Cup Carnival following Monday’s NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes.

“Safely through Ashburton, he will head straight to the Junior Free-For-All on New Zealand Cup Day and if he goes well enough there he will have a crack at the New Zealand Free-For-All on Show Day,” Dalgety said.

Defending New Zealand Cup Champion Self Assured (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) is sure to give a Krug a stern test in his Open Class debut.

The Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen trained pacer comes into the race third up on the back of a third in the $50,000 Group Two Canterbury Classic (2600m) and a win in his last start, also at Addington.

Pembrook Playboy (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) is another big winning threat in the NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes and comes into the race after beating Self Assured home in his last start at Addington.

Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson has been thrilled with the horse’s progress since his second placing in the Canterbury Classic.

“He’s tripped home for a couple of weeks and done well, he’s put a bit of weight on,” Williamson said.

“He has come back up to Canterbury looking good and he looks ready to go.

“His work has been good this week and he has settled in well up here.”

As expected from a king of the sales ring, Bettor’s Delight is strongly represented in Monday’s feature.

Five of the eight starters in the NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes are by the Champion sire.

NZB Airfreight Representative Robert Logan is pleased to see the race sponsorship inaugurated.

“NZB Airfreight are thrilled to support the Ashburton Raceways flagship Labour Day racemeeeting.”

“The NZB Airfreight Flying Stakes serves a vital role as a major lead up to New Zealand Cup week and we are thrilled to be involved.

“We wish all the connections the best of luck as they target this unique and special race,” he said.

The $50,000 Group Two NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes (2400m) will be run as Race 7 at 3:12PM (NZT) on Monday 25 October.

Group Two NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes Field

Barrier	Horse	Driver	Trainer	Sale	Purchaser
1	Pembrook Playboy (NZ) (Bettor's Delight)	Nathan Williamson	Nathan Williamson
2	Classie Brigade (NZ) (Bettor's Delight)	John Dunn	Robert & Jenna Dunn
3	Self Assured (NZ) (Bettor's Delight)	Mark Purdon	Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen
4	Vintage Cheddar (NZ) (Betterthancheddar)	Brad Williamson	Alister Black
5	Krug (NZ) (Bettor's Delight)	Blair Orange	Cran & Chrissie Dalgety	2019 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $155,000	Kentuckiana Lodge
6	Laver (NZ) (Art Major)	Gerard O'Reilly	Geoff & James Dunn
7	Henry Hubert (NZ) (Bettor's Delight)	Tim Williams	Robert & Jenna Dunn
8	Kango (NZ) (American Ideal)	Mark Jones	Arna Donnelly