By Jonny Turner
Cran Dalgety wants to see a new version of Republican Party when he returns to the Placemakers Hannon Memorial on Sunday.
The five-year-old will be out to go one better in the traditional New Zealand Cup lead up following his gritty second placing in the Group 3 feature last year.
The runner-up effort was the first in a string of top-level tilts Republican Party made in what was his first full season of racing New Zealand’s best older pacers.
With that year of open class grind behind him, Dalgety now wants to see a more hardened version of his stable star.
“Last year there was no hiding, he had to step up to race the best and he did so with merit.”
“There were some ups and downs along the way but overall, but he won the Canterbury Classic and placed in Hannon, the Ashburton Flying Stakes and the Auckland Cup.”
“It can be a shock to their systems stepping from age group racing into that open grade but you’d have to say he has handled it well.”
“After doing battle in these good races, they to get that hardening from the experience.”
“I guess we will find out pretty quickly, but all signs from the way he has come back are positive.”
Republican Party had one run back ahead of last year’s Hannon, but he will go into the Oamaru feature fresh up this year.
But Dalgety feels his horse is prepped to run a big race.
“He is in great shape, he has had two trials back and we have been very pleased with both of them.”
Republican Party opened the $2.60 favourite in front of another returning star in American Me.
The seven-year-old has only had one trial ahead of his first run of the spring, cruising to victory in a hit out at Ashburton.
Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety start one more horse on Hannon Memorial Day in All You Need Is Me.
The Group 1 Northern Oaks winner returns in a Nevele R Fillies Series heat with her camp confident she’s forward and ready for a big showing.
“She’s trialled really nice last week against some smart horses and she has trained really well since then.”
“She’s well and I am sure she will race well.”
Blair Orange takes the reins behind both Republican Party and All You Need Is Me.
Jonny Turner’s top 5 at Oamaru
Harness racing journalist Jonny Turner gives his take on which horses look well placed to deliver on Hannon Memorial Day.
Our Evie Rae
Harness racing fans know that it can be dangerous to put too much faith in a maiden trotter, however Our Evie Rae looks worth the risk. The four-year-old is generally safe though not a quick beginner. Race 1’s small field and its 2600m distance look two factors that can help the trotter work her way into the race and win. Our Evie Rae ran a nice race in her last outing at Ashburton behind a talented winner, which looks a great reference to bring to a race that doesn’t have a lot of exposed form.
Rock N Roll Don
Rock N Roll Don brings excellent trial form to his debut in race 2 including a particularly impressive recent victory over two up and comers from the powerful Mark and Nathan Purdon stable. The pacer slots into Sunday’s standing start event after stepping away cleanly in his penultimate trial ahead of his debut. With a safe beginning, Rock N Roll Don looks a huge winning threat in his first outing for strike-rate trainer-driver Bob Butt.
Ruby Roe
Sunday’s Nevele R Fillies Series heat looks to map perfectly for Ruby Roe. She’s drawn barrier 1 with a noted front-runner in All You Need Is Me drawn right beside her in barrier 2. All You Need Is Me is highly talented and will take plenty of catching if she is able to lead. But Ruby Roe will be a massive threat is she is able to sit in the trail, especially on the strength of her fresh up third in recent heat of this series at Addington. The three-year-old flashed home wide on the track after getting no favours from barrier 9. Fitter for that outing, Ruby Roe looks hard to beat if she’s anywhere close to the pace on Sunday.
Bring On The Muscle
Bring On The Muscle’s talent hasn’t been questioned during his short career, but his manners have been. Judging by his effortless fresh up win at Winton the classy trotter has returned in a great frame of mind and is ready to show his true worth this prep. Bring On The Muscle made a brilliant beginning in his last start victory and if he is able to do so again on Sunday it will be a huge help in overcoming his 30m handicap on Sunday.
Perun
A big last start performance to win at Addington suggests Perun will be tough to beat in the Hannon Day finale. The pacer worked mid-race before taking over in the straight and then cruising to victory, looking to knock off with no real competition around him. He steps up in grade in race 10, but it looks a grade rise Perun can handle and he should give his backers a strong run for their money.
To see the Hannon Memorial Day fields click here