Republican Party Downs Older Rivals in Powerful Display

Poise and power combined when Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) produced a brilliant win in the $36,000 Alabar Junior Free-For-All (1980m) at Addington on New Zealand Cup Day. 

The NZB Standardbred graduate taught his older rivals a lesson with a commanding front-running victory for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and driver Blair Orange.

Republican Party was a $210,000 purchase by Cran Dalgety at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale from breeder-vendors Price Bloodstock.

It wasn’t the classy colt’s more seasoned rivals that posed the biggest threat to his winning chances in Tuesday’s feature.

A minor gear malfunction proved pesky for Republican Party and driver Blair Orange, but thankfully both held their poise as the star colt added another stakes success to his impressive record.

“It was unlucky that his boring broke early in the race, it could have been curtains as soon as the mobile left,” Cran Dalgety said.

“The good thing is this horse is very sensible and very relaxed and if it was going to happen to anyone, he is the one that would handle it best.

“Thankfully it didn’t stop him from showing his class, so we are absolutely rapt. He is just a horse in the zone at the moment, he is racing well and handling it.

“He seems to improve every time he races and we couldn’t be happier with him.”

The Dalgety camp will now resist the temptation to start Republican Party on Show Day at Addington on Friday.

Instead, their focus is firmly on the Group One New Zealand Derby at the same track in early December.

“It is tempting to back him up because he has proven he can handle racing more seasoned horses,” Dalgety said.

“The Derby has been the long-range plan and we have a programme leading into it, so we would like to stick to that.”
“We will get him home and give him a few easy days now, he deserves it after the huge job he has done this Spring.

“But all in all, bring on the Derby.”

The Dalgety’s will seek to claim back-to-back New Zealand Derby wins with NZB Standardbred graduates.

The trainers took out last year’s edition of the classic event with their star pacer Krug (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

Cran and Chrissie Dalgety syndicated Republican Party following his purchase at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale.

The colt is raced by include Grant Dickey, Ken Cummings, Gary Merlo, Julie Rooney, Greg Ayers, David Schollum, Bernard Smith, the First Term Syndicate and the A & M Syndicate.

Consignor	Price Bloodstock
Purchaser	Cran Dalgety
Breeding	Bettor's Delight - Democrat Party
Sale	2020 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $210,000
Breeder	F J Price & Mrs K V Price