Kentuckiana Lodge star Republican Party will make his final public appearance before the New Zealand Derby at Addington on Friday night.
Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety want to see the perfect lead-up from their three-year-old ahead of next week’s time-honoured feature.
The Dalgetys will shoot for back-to-back victories in the New Zealand Derby after Krug took out last year’s edition.
The chances of seeing a perfect lead-up run from Republican Party look high and not just because the pacer has thrived since his New Zealand Cup Day victory in the Junior Free-For-All.
Central to his outstanding recent success, the horse is showing adaptability beyond his years.
“Obviously the Derby is the big goal and we get the chance to put the polish on him for it this week,” Cran said.
“With the way he has been racing, he has been showing all of the attributes needed to be a quality racehorse.”
“We want to see him get into a good rhythm and hit the line well this week.”
“It won’t really matter where he ends up from the draw (8).”
“It is a hot field so there could be a bit happening, it will really be up to Blair what he wants to do early.”
“But if he can settle in somewhere and be hitting the line we will be rapt.”
“This race is just what he needs to be spot on for the derby.”
The Dalgety stable also starts Ohoka Le Bron in race 9 on Friday night.
The pacer’s debut didn’t go to plan at Addington on New Zealand Cup Day owing to a gear malfunction.
It is hoped the real Ohoka Le Bro will be on show this time.
“It all turned to custard first up with the boring pole breaking and the horse getting fired up.”
“We have put the pacifiers on just to make sure his second start at the races is a positive experience for him.”
“On ability, he is going to win a race very shortly, but with Sinbad in there it may not be this week.”
“In saying that, we think he will run a nice race all the same and a top-three placing in that field would be a handy result.”
The Dalgety team will take Casino Action to the Geraldine meeting on Saturday for his first grass track start.
It is hoped the three-year-old can get some luck after his last start at Timaru turned into something of a non-event.
“He just needs a decent trip, he hasn’t had any luck at all lately.”
“He got tough draws over Cup Week but he acquitted himself well.”
“We will just put a line through his last start in the wet at Timaru.”
“He is more than capable in this grade and he is a good-gaited horse, so we don’t think the grass will worry him at all.”
Blair Orange drives all three of the Kentuckiana Lodge runners on Friday and Saturday.
