Cran Dalgety knows the reality of the challenge ahead.

Even with a kind barrier draw, Dalgety admits beating Aussie champ Leap To Fame will be a massive task in Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Kilmore Cup (2180m).

Republican Party gained an early edge with gate two, while Leap To Fame is the lone back row runner from gate eight.

Dalgety is also mindful that Republican Party hasn’t raced for five weeks going into Kilmore.

“Compare that with Leap To Fame, who is rock hard fit and having his fourth race in as many weeks,” he said.

“Yes, our guy worked terrific at Pukekohe last week, but nothing beats racing to peak them. Whatever he does this week will bring him for the Hunter Cup the week after.”

Republican Party arrived in Melbourne last Sunday, just hours after being crowned NZ Horse of the Year following his huge 2025.

“I’m here with him now. He’s handled the trip well and is bright and bouncing around,” Dalgety said.

“I’m sure he’ll go well this week, but realistically, if we can run a good second to Leap To Fame this week, it’ll show he’s on target for the Hunter Cup.

“While the Hunter Cup will obviously be much stronger again with Kingman and Swayzee there, having them in it could actually help us.

“We need to sit off them, hope they go hard at each other, and we have the last shot at them.

“We can’t go toe-to-toe with them and beat them. The recent records show that.”

One big thing in Republican Party’s favour this week is the short 2180m distance at Kilmore compared to the staying trips Leap To Fame has relished at Ballarat and Cranbourne the past two weeks.

The Kilmore 2180m is a glorified sprint race.

Despite that, Leap To Fame was quickly backed from $1.30 into $1.22 with Republican Party easing from $3.10 to $3.30.

“That is a help, but the way Leap To Fame’s going, I’m sure Grant will turn it into a real staying test anyway,” Dalgety said.

“It’s pretty daunting when you see what he (Leap To Fame) did in that hot field last week at Cranbourne.

Leap To Fame needs to win again this week to keep his hopes of a new $1 million Summer of Glory bonus alive.

Having won the Ballarat and Cranbourne Cups, the champion Queenslander can bank the bonus if he adds Kilmore and the Hunter Cup.

Champion trotting mare Keayang Zahara has this week off, which paves the way for her star stablemate Jilliby Ballerini to win the $75,000 Group 2 Kilmore Trotters’ Cup.

Jilliby Ballerini, who has won all three starts since returning from an NZ raid last November, has drawn the pole, looks a likely leader and is $1.50 favourite.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand