By Adam Hamilton
Auckland and Invercargill Cup winner Republican Party will chase the Group 1 Hunter Cup.
Co-trainer Cran Dalgety confirmed the five-year-old would be on a flight to Melbourne on Wednesday for what will likely be a three-race Victorian campaign.
Surprisingly, Dalgety said Republican Party would then return home rather than head to Sydney for a tilt at the Miracle Mile.
“He’s earned a go at Melbourne. He’s taken that next step from a nice horse to one who will be competitive with the very best,” Dalgety said.
“We’d love to have a go at the Ballarat Cup this week given it’s worth $100,000, but we just feel racing three days after he gets there isn’t the best thing for him.
“So, we’ll wait the extra week and have our lead-up run in the Casey Classic and go onto the Hunter Cup the week after.
“All going well, the Cranbourne Cup is worth $100,000 and it’s the week after (the Hunter Cup).”
A winner of his last three races, Republican Party is a pint-sized star and Dalgety believes his stature was the main reason for not staying in Australia for the Miracle Mile.
“We just feel, on that big track at the Menangle, the best horse could monster him a bit,” he said.
“We’ll go home after Melbourne and set out sights on trying to get him a partner (slot) for the big Cambridge race.”
Republican Party will add to the strong Kiwi flavour in the Hunter Cup with Tact McLeod already in Victoria and Don't Stop Dreaming heading across, too.