Kentuckiana Lodge rolled out some of their stars at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
Republican Party and Krug both made their first public appearances of their new campaigns as they work towards the biggest of spring goals.
Both horses fired on all cylinders and trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety couldn’t have been happier with them.
Republican Party looked ready to be unleashed when powering to an impressive 2000m heat victory.
The three-year-old rolled home in 56.5sec (800m) and 28.4sec (400m) with driver Blair Orange reporting the horse was still travelling beautifully at the finish.
The performance may have earned the star pacer a start at Addington next week.
“We wanted to give him a bit of a hit out because there is a race for him next week,” Carter Dalgety said.
“He trialled very nice and Blair said he was still under a hold at the line.”
“He had a nice blow afterwards so that run will bring him on, which is just what we wanted.”
“There is a race at Addington next week, it would be good if he could start there before going on to the Lazarus Stakes.”
“We will monitor how he comes through this trial and make a plan from there, but he seems to have pulled up great at this stage.”
There was a massive win for Krug before he had completed a lap of the Rangiora track in the first trial of his New Zealand Cup campaign.
The four-year-old stepped away perfectly from his 20m handicap before trialling just to Cran and Chrissie’s liking, running fourth.
“The best part was he made a perfect beginning which was great to see,” Carter said.
“He was 20m behind them, so he settled down behind the ones off the front line and from there he ran home well.”
“He clocked his last 800m is 54.9sec and 400m in 27.1sec.”
“We couldn’t really be happier with that for his first trial.”
“He will have another trial next week and we will take it from there.”
“The Hannon will be an option after that, but we will assess things after his next trial.”
Kentuckiana Lodge had two more horses trial at Rangiora on Wednesday with Defy Me and Fun To Come both producing pleasing efforts.
“Defy Me is a lovely horse and he trialled nicely.”
“He is off for a freshen up now, he has a bit of size about him and he will come back an even better horse after a wee break.”
“Fun To Come is in the same boat, we have been pleased with him and we are looking forward to him coming back in bigger and stronger.”
Defy Me was just a head behind the winner when running second in his qualifying trial, with Fun To Come behind him in fifth.
