The last piece of the Hunter Cup jigsaw has arrived in Victoria.
Freshly-crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year and last year’s Hunter Cup placegetter Republican Party is here.
Co-trainer Cran Dalgety confirmed he would “tune-up” for the $250,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup in this Saturday’s $150,000 Group 1 Kilmore Cup.
Republican Party, who was crowned NZ Horse of the Year last Saturday night, hasn’t raced this year with his last start being a successful defence of his Group 1 Auckland Cup crown at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve.
It was his third win in as many starts since finishing sixth in the NZ Cup and second in the NZ free-for-all during Cup Week at Addington in November.
“Ideally we’d have liked a lead-up run before going across, but we did take into Alexandra Park last Thursday with a few other horses for a private trial and made as close as we could to a race scenario,” Dalgety said.
“He ran super duper times, but they all seem to do that these days.
“He’s right where we want him and it’ll be great to get him to Kilmore and have that run under his belt before the Hunter Cup.”
Dalgety’s son, Carter who drives Republican Party, said last year’s luckless third in the Hunter Cup behind Swayzee and Leap To Fame “fuelled” a return raid.
“It showed he can be there right with them. He would’ve gone close to winning with better luck,” he said.
“I’m sure he’s a better horse now, too. His form says that. Not just his form, but the way he’s really dominated some of the races over here (NZ).
“He can really bully a field now, which is something he couldn’t do a year ago.
“I’m sure that trip over last year helped take him to the next level.”
That improvement and confidence in Republican Party spurred Team Dalgety to try their luck and hold the lead in the NZ Cup.
“He’d just been so good in the lead-up and was in such a good place, we thought it was then or never to have a crack,” Carter said.
“While Kingman and Leap To Fame were simply amazing … too big and too strong, I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, Republican Party definitely under-performed that day. He should’ve run third.
“He went better in the free-for-all on Friday and the best part is how he came out the other side of those two runs.”
Republican Party has won all three starts since, including successfully defending his Invercargill and Auckland Cup crowns.
“Those two runs were huge. As much as anything, they showed me how far he’s come in the past year,” Carter said.
“Invercargill was amazing and I thought Akuta had him in the Auckland Cup, but he lifted and just wanted to win. He’s mentally tougher now.”
That said, don’t expect to see Republican Party try and match the big Aussie guns at their own game in the Hunter Cup.
“No, we’re really there to stalk them and try and take advantage if we can get an easier run and last crack at them,” Carter said.
“These Aussie stars are a different level and what Kingman and Leap To Fame did in the NZ Cup really cemented that. They were the ones racing on a new track for the first time and from a standing-start, which they weren’t used to, and still dominated the race.”
Carter is excited just to be part of it.
“I might be a long time before I get another one good enough to be part of races like this. I hope not, but when you get this chance you’ve got to take it with both hands,” he said.
“Dad (Cran) reminds me he was about my age when he took Desperate Comment across and won (a Victoria) Cup, so the pressure is on.”
