Tour Party looks exceptional

Southern Bred Southern Reared two year old Tour Party (Bettor’s Delight) looks to be  developing into a talented juvenile after easily winning the $100,000 Group One Breckon Farms Cardigan Bay Stakes at Alexandra Park tonight.

Trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and driven by their son Carter, the colt was nursed out of the gate and faced some early challenges for the lead.

“I thought there would be a couple that would come looking. I didn’t panic. I just let him do what he wanted. For a two year old he’s so professional, he’s got a good gait – everything you want in a young horse,” Carter said.

Once he got to the lead Tour Party made his own terms and came away in the straight to win by five and a half lengths.

TOUR PARTY REPLAY

Tour Party was bought by the Dalgetys at last year’s NZB Standardbred Yearling Sale for $150,000 and was syndicated to a large group including some that are new to harness racing ownership.

“We only bought him twelve months ago and his progression has just been steady and has always been nice. This trip has really made him. He still ducks around, but to do a performance like that in his third start – he’s a bit different.”

He’s out of broodmare gem Democrat Party who won her biggest race as a two year old in the Delightful Lady Stakes at this meeting twelve years ago.

At stud, Democrat Party has left Republican Party (27), Advance Party (6) and Debutante Party (6) and now unbeaten Tour Party (3).

The win was the third in this race for Cran and Chrissie who won last year’s edition with Fugitive and in 2020 with Krug.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink