Trots Centre: Dylan finds his forever home in Cranbourne

As Victorians dare dream about life as normal one Cranbourne trainer has settled into a new stride and is loving every minute of it.

This Sunday marks two years since trainer Dylan Stratford (pictured) took up stable at Cranbourne training centre and the fruits of some of his efforts will be on show on Trots Vision tonight when he starts four at his home track.

“The two years at Cranbourne have well and truly exceeded my highest expectations,” Stratford said. “You obviously don’t go into it expecting to conquer the world straight away.

“Owners have been incredibly supportive and a group of people have put a lot of faith in me. I’d like to think I am starting to reward them with results.”

The former Kiwi has had 171 starts and 15 victories on Australian soil, with all but his first win coming while training from Cranbourne.

“It is a great facility and they are great people to train with, which is a massive bonus. I have had some good advice and that has really taken pressure off,” he said.

“I love the Victorian racing, which is why I made the move, and I can’t see myself shifting from Cranbourne either. I love the town, love the people and the training centre, which I think are the way of the future.”

He’ll have four chances to add to his win total tonight, beginning with Express Yourself in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap at 7pm, when his seven-year-old mare will be first-up since August 23 and off the 30-metre mark.

“She trialled at Melton and really impressed me,” Stratford said of Express Yourself, who’s been in his hands since January after previously racing for Mick Hughes.

“Of all the time she’s been in the stable that was the most impressed I’ve been with her, she really found the line well and under a hold.

“She starts really well, so she will make short work off the 30 meters and run on well. Gatesys Gift is clearly the class runner. We’d be happy running second without a doubt, he showed very good form last prep. As far as the rest go, I’d like to think she’s up to challenging them.”

Then it’s on to Sir Fortune in the Blue Hills Rise Pace at 8.08pm. He’s produced three wins for Stratford but hasn’t shown his best of late and his trainer’s hopeful the gate one draw can bring a change.

“It is the best draw he’s had for a long time, it will be interesting to see if he has still got the gait speed that he used to have,” he said of the four-year-old. “If he can use it I’d like him to run off the gate.

“His last start he was improved, but he is still not going as well as he was eight or nine months ago. If he improves he is able to run top three, I will really get a lot of info out of this run.”

And then there his best chance of a result, the Hygain 3YO Trot, where he’ll have Goober (gate one) and Scootin Around (gate five) in the six-horse field. Last start they finished second and first respectively and Stratford’s hopeful of a repeat performance.

“They both look to have come through really well. Goober has the better draw and that will make a big difference providing he keeps his cool,” he said.

“It is the first time he’s not been on the second row or outside the front row since I’ve had him. He should have the gate speed to hold the lead.

“Scootin Around is incredibly versatile. He can do work or sit back and has a bit of pace. He’s the better horse, Goober has the better draw, if they run one-two again I’d be over the moon.”

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