Kentuckiana Party After Group One Messenger Triumph

Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) added another elite-level crown to his record when victorious in last Friday’s Group One Dawson Harford NZ Messenger (2700m) at Alexandra Park.

He was beaten for pace off the mobile arm by Rakero Rocket (NZ) (Rock N Roll Heaven), but not content in the trail, driver Carter Dalgety launched Republican Party forward to reclaim the lead shortly after. 

Dalgety continued to dictate proceedings upfront and took the race to his rivals with 400m to go, establishing a two-length advantage turning for home, which proved telling in the final stages, with Republican Party holding out a fast-finishing Mo’unga (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) to win by a neck.

The Messenger was the key target of the autumn for Republican Party, and Dalgety was pleased to deliver the result for his parents, Cran and Chrissie, who train the six-year-old entire.

“I am so proud of the wee fella,” Carter Dalgety said. “We set him for this race, he is proven over the distance and he didn’t let us down, he is a wee cracker.

“This is special, it is a great occasion.”

Cran Dalgety was rapt with the result and he continues to be impressed by the massive heart of his diminutive pacer.

“He doesn’t daunt them with his size and his robustness because he is so little, but he is very game and loves the long distances,” he said.

“It is a hell of a thrill and Carter put him in the right place at the right time and we were very lucky to be victorious.”

Republican Party has now won 20 of his 54 starts, including three at Group One level, amassing more than $826,000 in prizemoney.

He is out of Group One-winning mare Democrat Party (NZ), who is also the dam of Group One performer Advance Party (NZ).

Republican Party was bred by Katrina and John Price and he was offered through Price Bloodstock’s 2020 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch where he was purchased by Cran Dalgety for $210,000.

 

Vendor	Price Bloodstock
Purchaser	Cran Dalgety
Owner(s)	Mrs C M Dalgety, G E Dickey, Mrs J E Rooney, G A Ayers, First Term Syndicate, D A Schollum, K J Cummings, B A Smith, G P Merlo, A & M Syndicate
Breeding	Bettor's Delight - Democrat Party
Sale	2020 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($210,000)
Breeder(s)	F J Price,Mrs K V Price