Republican's Aussie party is over for now

NEW Zealand’s best pacer Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) won’t chase the Miracle Mile.

Despite a fantastic and close-up third to big guns Swayzee and Leap To Fame in last Saturday night’s Hunter Cup, the newly crowned NZ Harness Racing Horse of the Year has returned home.

Co-trainer Cran Dalgety has switched focus to the $NZ1 million Race by betcha at Cambridge on April 10.

He will take on Australia’s best again, but this time on his patch.

“The Miracle Mile isn’t the right race for him,” Dalgety said. “It’s more about the track. Look at him, he’s not a big horse, they’d monster him on that big (Menangle) track.”

Republican Party has been to Menangle, albeit three years ago, when he had a four-race campaign for one win and three unplaced runs.

The seven-year-old is clearly a much better horse now, but Dalgety won’t be swayed.

“It’s hard enough taking on these big Aussie brutes, let alone on a track that suits them even better,” he said.

Dalgety was thrilled with Republican Party’s Hunter Cup run where he finished third for the second year in a row.

“He gave it everything,” he said. “We got the draw he needed, he had a lovely run and got really close.

“For a moment there we got excited, but Swayzee has shown time and time again what a hard horse he is to get past.”

Republican Party finished but only after some length post-race drama when part-owner Greg Ayres challenged the photo-finish.

It resulted in a stewards’ inquiry, but the result stood.

It is almost impossible to split Republican Party and Leap To Fame in the photo-finish, but the computer timing system found a tint edge to Leap To Fame.

Leap To Fame, Kingman and possibly Swayzee will be among Republican Party’s rivals again at Cambridge.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia