Republican Party primed for the Hannon Memorial

Cran Dalgety wants to see a new version of Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) when he returns to the Placemakers Hannon Memorial on Sunday.

The five-year-old will be out to go one better in the traditional New Zealand Cup lead up following his gritty second placing in the Group 3 harness racing feature last year.

The runner-up effort was the first in a string of top-level tilts Republican Party made in what was his first full season of racing New Zealand’s best older pacers.

With that year of open class grind behind him, Dalgety now wants to see a more hardened version of his stable star.

“Last year there was no hiding, he had to step up to race the best and he did so with merit.”

“There were some ups and downs along the way but overall, but he won the Canterbury Classic and placed in Hannon, the Ashburton Flying Stakes and the Auckland Cup.”

“It can be a shock to their systems stepping from age group racing into that open grade but you’d have to say he has handled it well.”

“After doing battle in these good races, they to get that hardening from the experience.”

“I guess we will find out pretty quickly, but all signs from the way he has come back are positive.”

Republican Party had one run back ahead of last year’s Hannon, but he will go into the Oamaru feature fresh up this year.

But Dalgety feels his horse is prepped to run a big race.

“He is in great shape, he has had two trials back and we have been very pleased with both of them.”

Republican Party opened the $2.60 favourite in front of another returning star in American Me.

The seven-year-old has only had one trial ahead of his first run of the spring, cruising to victory in a hit out at Ashburton.

Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety start one more horse on Hannon Memorial Day in All You Need Is Me.

The Group 1 Northern Oaks winner returns in a Nevele R Fillies Series heat with her camp confident she’s forward and ready for a big showing.

“She’s trialled really nice last week against some smart horses and she has trained really well since then.”

“She’s well and I am sure she will race well.”

Blair Orange takes the reins behind both Republican Party and All You Need Is Me.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand