Republican Party Doubles Up At Alexandra Park

Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) continued his purple patch of form at Alexandra Park last Friday night when winning the Group One Roy Purdon Memorial (2200m).

It was his second elite-level triumph in seven days, having been victorious in the Group One NZ Messenger (2700m) at the Auckland track a week prior, and he was once again up to his brilliant best last Friday.

Leading junior driver Carter Dalgety was once again in the bike for his trainer parents Cran and Chrissy, and he got Republican Party off to a flyer from his 10m handicap to sit four back the fence. Not content with his position, Dalgety urged his charge forward to take control up front.

Turning for home, Sooner The Bettor (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) looked ominous up the passing lane, but Republican Party rallied to score a 1-½ length victory, with a further half-length back to a luckless We Walk By Faith (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) in third.

“I will remember this one for a long time,” Carter Dalgety said.

“We are lucky we timed it well and he played the game. I had to be a little bit patient early, but I am sure Scotty (Phelan, driver of Sooner The Bettor) was happy to sit on him and everyone got their chance.”

Republican Party holds a nomination for the Inter Dominions in Brisbane in July, and Dalgety said they will wait for the dust to settle before making any concrete plans to head across the Tasman.

“He is in the form of his life,” he said. “We will have a good discussion with Mum, Dad, and the owners and see what happens.”

Republican Party has now won 21 of his 55 starts, including four at Group One level, amassing more than $880,000 in prizemoney.

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

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