Memorable Back-To-Back Double For Republican Party

Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) ended his outstanding season on a high at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve when defending his crown in the Group One Auckland Trotting Cup (3200m).

It came just a week after he did the same in the Group One Invercargill Cup (2700m) at Ascot Park, securing a memorable back-to-back double.

In the last Group One of the season, the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained entire secured an early trail behind Sooner The Bettor (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), however, not content with the pace, driver Carter Dalgety sent Republican Party forward to take the lead with two laps to go.

He continued to set terms up front, but turning for home several of their rivals loomed ominously, and while Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) flew home late out wide, Republican Party was able to call on his class to hold on for a head victory.

Favourite punters had their hearts in their mouths in the final stages, as did co-trainer Cran Dalgety, who was a relieved man post race. 

“I did have heart fibrillations at the 100m,” he said. “Going into a big race like that where he was favourite and he looked the hard one to beat, but you never count your chickens and it was scary, but it was a really big thrill.

“There were a lot of late runners that were just as good, if not better, for the half but it was just lucky that Carter was in front making them catch him rather than having to try and catch them.”

The win extended Republican Party’s 2025 season tally to nine victories, including four at group One level, with earnings north of $550,000.

Carter Dalgety partnered him in all those wins, and closed out the season on six Group One victories himself, but admitted the last of those caused his heart rate to spike.

“He knew where it (finish line) was but they were closing pretty hard. They gave me a little heart attack but might have just been having me on,” he said.

“It is lucky when it comes to those close finishes it just comes down to their will to win, and he kicked hard.”

Bred by Katrina and John Price, Republican Party is out of Group One-winning mare Democrat Party, a daughter of Group One performer Champagne Party, and the dam of Group One performer Advance Party.

Republican Party was offered through Price Bloodstock’s 2020 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch where he was purchased by Cran Dalgety for $210,000.

He has now won 27 of his 64 starts to date, including five at Group One level, and has amassed more than $1.2 million in prizemoney.

Vendor	Price Bloodstock
Purchaser	Cran Dalgety
Owner(s)	Mrs C M Dalgety, G E Dickey, Mrs J E Rooney, G A Ayers, First Term Syndicate, D A Schollum, K J Cummings, B A Smith, G P Merlo, A & M Syndicate
Breeding	Bettor's Delight - Democrat Party
Sale	2020 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($210,000)
Breeder(s)	F J Price,Mrs K V Price