Republican Party has eye on the prize

West Melton trainer Cran Dalgety is well aware of the candidates for this year’s IRT New Zealand Cup but he’s not focusing on them. He’s busy planning a pathway for his wife Chrissie’s stable star Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight).

“It’s no different to any other Cup. We hear every year that this is the best New Zealand field we’ve seen but I’ve never seen a weak New Zealand Cup yet. Is there such a thing?” Cran said.

In last year’s two mile feature Republican Party ran a creditable third and Dalgety says he has a bit of work ahead to get him fined down for his year’s edition.

“He’s probably bulkier. He hasn’t grown any because he’s got the sawn off legs. When he was on the water walker it put a bit more weight and muscle onto him. Being a stallion they do take a bit more work because they’re older. He’s very healthy at the moment.”

After having excellent two and three year old seasons in which he won twelve races, Republican Party has taken a bit of time to adjust to Free For All racing.

“You have great two and three year olds who are star juveniles and they get to Free For All company and basically a lot of them get a bloody nose. He did get a shock last year but after the New Zealand Cup he went on a roll.”

Following last year’s New Zealand Cup, he won the Invercargill Cup, Auckland Cup, Cambridge Flying Mile, New Zealand Messenger and Roy Purdon Memorial.

“There’s a lot of making these Free for Allers. It’s as much about getting your arse kicked as winning. They have to get hard mentally and physically. Travels a big thing. When you’ve got a good horse you’ve got to be on the road a lot. He’ll be on the road for three or four months after Cup Week. That’s what happens every year. They’ve got to leave town. He’s done all that so he’s ready for the big fight.”

Dalgety says the Australian trip and finishing third behind Swayzee and Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup have helped Republican Party grow.

“They come back and you can just see it in their personality. They grow and they get round their mates with that confidence. There’s something in that. People may laugh when I try to explain.”

The six year old has a good foundation and now it’s time to fine tune him for the end of season features and beyond.

“He’ll have two, maybe three trials. There’s the Canterbury Classic here and the Ashburton Flying Stakes. We’ll definitely go in those. The Kaikoura Cup as a $100,000 (race) is looking a bit sexy because of the prize money. I know where we want to be and I’m just filling the gaps in as we go.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink