Cran and Carter Dalgety. Photo: SUPPLIED
The veteran trainer of a New Zealand Cup front-runner says a maiden win following a string of podium results would serve as a long-awaited milestone.
Republican Party, trained by Canterbury's Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, remained the leading homegrown contender for Tuesday's 122nd running of the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Christchurch's Addington Raceway.
After more than 30 years, Cran Dalgety's run at the marquee harness racing event had been marked by a string of near things.
The West Melton trainer has finished with two second places and three thirds in previous cups.
The main prize had however continued to elude him.
"I'd like to think I've done my apprenticeship. I've been trying to win this race for 34 years," he said.
"We've had 18 shots at it. A lot of seconds and thirds, but second is first beaten so it doesn't count.
"We're desperately due."
Other notable results include a third place for Christen Me in 2013, an historic year in which the Graham and Paul Court-trained Terror to Love triumphed in becoming only the third horse to win the Cup for a third time.
Dalgety's Bettor's Strike also had to settle for a second place finish in 2009.
An integral part of the family's hopes was 22-year-old son Carter who would be driving Republican.
The talented driver had made a gradual rise up the ranks, turning heads by securing the Junior Drivers Premiership which capped a red letter year.
"He's making more positive results than the negative ones. It's exciting to have him associated with the horse," Dalgety said.
"If something really good happened and he got victory it would be quite a buzzy day."
The Republican Party team was buoyed by a good run of recent form courtesy of three straight wins over the past month.
"Like all sport, you prepare and you try your best, and then come the day, you hope for the best," Dalgety said.
"Everything's fallen into place and we go in with a bit of confidence."
New Zealand Cup day was one of the big events on the Canterbury social calendar and the Cup, with a purse of $1 million, was also one of the country's pinnacle racing events.
"The mana that comes with this particular race is hard to explain. Everyone who can relate to racing, can remember who won the last New Zealand Cup," Dalgety said.
Last year, Republican Party finished third at Addington, behind Don't Stop Dreaming and Swayzee, the latter clinching a second straight NZ Trotting Cup.
They will, however, have to overcome the bookies hot pick from across the Tasman.
Leap To Fame, trained and driven by Queensland's Grant Dixon, sat at $1.60 at the TAB on Monday to win the Cup.
Dalgety was excited by the challenge that laid ahead.
"I'm not an emotional person, but it would test the emotions if it did happen."
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