Republican Party runs fastest Invercargill Cup

Southlanders love a great horse and today they showed their appreciation for Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) who for the second time, won the $100,000 Group One Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup.

“You just don’t see that in the modern era and it’s actually quite heartening. The Southlanders really embrace the victorious horse whoever it may be,” said Cran Dalgety who trains the six year old with his wife Chrissie.

The Lazarus Effect began like a bullet from the front row and driver Bob Butt was intent on setting a very fast tempo. From his twenty metre handicap Republican Party settled last in the outside running line. With just over a lap to run driver Carter Dalgety made his move with Republican Party, bringing the Ascot Park crowd to their feet.

With 500 metres to run the trailing horse Macandrew Aviator started to drop off and this allowed Dalgety to slot Republican Party in behind The Lazarus Effect at the 300.

“Carter was great taking that sit at the 300 just to put a bit more oxygen into him and he was able to outsprint him.”

Turning in The Lazarus Effect kicked, opening up a two length buffer. But Republican Party dug deep into the well and got up to beat a brave The Lazarus Effect by three quarters of a length with local Wag Star two and three quarter lengths back in third.

Outside of the winner the run of The Lazarus Effect was super.

“I’m ecstatic with it. That horse is a great horse, to get so close to him at only his thirteenth start. The other horse had won twenty five races and he’s the best horse in New Zealand,” Butt said of the run from The Lazarus Effect adding, “It’s just a bit of a shame he (Republican Party) got a bit of a breather round the last bend.”

REPUBLICAN PARTY INVERCARGILL CUP REPLAY

The winning time of 3-19.2 was the fastest Cup time since the distance was changed to 2700 metres in 2020.

The mile rate was 1-58.7 with the last 800 run in 56.8 and the last 400 in 28.9.

The previous race record of 3-20.2 was held by the 2021 winner Pembrook Playboy.

Cran said Republican Party will fly to Auckland on Monday night for his next assignment, the $250,000 Auckland Cup.

“After that who knows. He’s hardened to the Grand Circuit and has done more travelling than me in the last couple of years.”

Butt is unsure of where The Lazarus Effect will go next.

“He’s pulled up great and he’s bright. We’ll get him home and make a plan for him. I was just saying to Graeme Henley (Alabar Stud) before, if you’d said two months ago that he would have run second in the Christian Cullen and come down here and run second in the Invercargill Cup we would have laughed at you. The race at Kaikoura was our main aim but this horse has just come on leaps and bounds.”

Republican Park joins Prince Rashad, Blossom Lady and Lazer Lad as dual winners of the Invercargill Cup.

The win was one of three for the Dalgetys and has enabled Carter to take a two win advantage over Wilson House in the hotly contested New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship with eight race meetings left in the season.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink