Pat's Delight, who beat the older horses in the Gr.3 $25,800 Metalcraft Roofing espan Summer Cup at Addington on Friday night, could be even better right-handed.

That's the opinion of West Melton trainer Cran Dalgety, who with Pat's Delight (and possibly stablemate Master Moonlite), will be chasing back-to-back Northern Derby wins at Auckland on March 9.

"He (Pat's Delight) steers a bit better the Auckland-way round," Dalgety said.

"Master Moonlite wasn't as good the Auckland-way round a couple of months ago but he's improving.

“They’re only three once, so we might take both of them to Auckland for the Northern Derby."

Pat's Delight, not too far behind the best three-year-olds when sixth in Chase Auckland's record-run NRM Sires Stakes Final at Addington on NZ Cup Day in November, has come back a touch stronger after a let-up, according to his trainer.

"He's a little bit more confident and has a bit more presence as his male hormones kick in," Dalgety said.

"It was a good effort tonight to run past A G's White Socks, as that horse was second to Vincent in the Franklin Cup and ran (seventh) in the Auckland Cup."

The Bettor's Delight colt could have also raced against stablemates, Master Moonlite and Fizzing, in the rating 61 to 85 pace on Friday, but he would have been on the outside of the front row under the preferential draw.

Dalgety, and driver Dexter Dunn, weren't fazed running him against the free-for-allers in the Summer Cup, knowing he'd draw well as one of the lower rated 84 horses in the Summer Cup.

"We had intended trailing Tiger Thompson but A G's White Socks and Royal Bengal, who drew inside us, held the trail positions," Dalgety said.

Pat's Delight, after settling fourth, moved out in the open at the 1300m, secured a one out trail behind Buster Brady at the 900m, and was too strong in the run home.

He held A G's White Socks by three-quarters of a length in a 1:55.7 rate (1950m), the leaders running their last 800m in 54.9s and final 400m in 26.7s.