It just wouldn’t be Cran Dalgety if he didn’t go into the Chariots Of Fire with a real sense of optimism.
Dalgety and wife Chrissie start Kentuckiana Lodge star Republican Party in what is set to be one of the races of the year at Menangle on Saturday night.
All of the talk leading into the race has been around Australian star Captain Ravishing.
Deservedly so, as the horse has shown freakish speed in some scintillating wins.
When Republican Party drew barrier 8 and Captain Ravishing drew barrier 1, some pundits said the race was over.
But Cran Dalgety said bring it on.
“We go into the race with full respect for the Aussie horses, in particular Captain Ravishing.”
“You look at the last quarters he has been running and he must have broken a few stop watches.”
“Certainly there is a healthy respect there, but what I would say is on determination and staying prowess I am very comfortable that our horse rates as good as any in the race.”
“And if they go crazy like they did last year – we certainly haven’t forgotten Krug having to run a 24sec opening quarter – we do know our horse won’t lay down in a dog fight.”
“What we have is in our horse – for want of a better term – is a very determined little bugger.”
“If they are all on the canvas at the 400m, I know which horse I would want to be on.”
“So, while the draw might be something for the punters and the scribes to talk about it isn’t something we will lose too much sleep over.”
“With $250K of Aussie money on the line you wouldn’t think it would be a training run and a sprint home.”
Republican Party has thrived since his fresh up win at Menangle.
And in doing so he is showing he might not be the Southland lad he was bred to be.
“We have brought plenty of horses over the ditch over the years and some thrive with the heat, others don’t mind it and some others don’t enjoy it.”
“To say this horse enjoys it might be an understatement.”
“He’s born and bred in the deep south but you would think he is from straight out of the tropics.”
“He’s doing incredibly well over there and we could not be happier with him.”
“His work has been right where we want it to be and he seems very happy and well.”
Blair Orange heads to Menangle on Saturday night to reunite with Republican Party in the Chariots Of Fire which is set to be run at 11.52pm New Zealand Time on Saturday night.
