Republican Party primed for Aussie raid

Multiple Group 1 winner Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) is primed for his next Aussie harness racing raid.

The seven-year-old thrilled co-trainer Cran Dalgety in an unofficial trial yesterday (Thursday) ahead of a flight from Auckland to Melbourne on Sunday morning.

Republican Party’s will launch his Victorian campaign in Saturday week’s $150,000 Group 1 Kilmore Cup.

“With the big three (Leap To Fame, Kingman and Swayzee) all going around at Cranbourne this week, I’m hoping one or two of them don’t back-up at Kilmore,” Dalgety said.

“Ideally we’d love to have got a run into him before he goes across, but Kilmore is a lead-in to the Hunter Cup the week after.

“His workout was good and strong. He ran super duper times, but they seem to do that these days.”

Republican Party ran a luckless third to Swayzee and Leap To Fame in last year’s Hunter Cup and his form since shows he is a better horse now.

But this will be a vintage Hunter Cup with Leap To Fame, Kingman, Swayzee and others.

Dalgety will be watching closely how tomorrow’s Cranbourne Cup (11.09pm)  plays out.

“What great racing you’ve had over there lately,” he said. “It’s great to see Kingman and Leap To Fame going at it again and now Swayzee is in the mix, too. It should be some sort of race.”

Kingman is $1.70 favourite from gate one ahead of Leap To Fame ($2.40, gate four) and Swayzee ($6.50, seven).

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand