Ideal draw for Republican Party in Hunter Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

By Adam Hamilton

Cran Dalgety summed up Republican Party’s Hunter Cup draw the best.

“It’s the draw he needed to be a winning chance in such a hot race,” he said. “Drawing the pole is a hell of a bonus. It’s the quickest way home.”

Republican Party firmed from $12 to $4.60 after drawing gate one for the $250,000 feature at Melton on Saturday night. 

Defending champion Swayzee ($3.60) is next door in gate two, while Leap To Fame ($2.40) has six and NZ Cup hero Kingman ($4.40) is off the back row (10).

Dalgety said Republican Party would be a lot fitter for last week’s second to Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Kilmore Cup.

“He went from a chance to blowing out in the last 80m, but we sort of expected that with five weeks between runs,” he said.

“He blew up a lot over the back and the run will bring him on a lot. We needed a good draw this week and we’ve got it.”

Leap To Fame may have to do what he couldn’t do last year to win a $1 million bonus in the Hunter Cup.

Mighty stayer and arch-rival Swayzee is the most likely of the big guns to find the lead from gate two and Leap To Fame may have to sit outside him.

Swayzee used a better draw to lead, smash the track record and beat a gallant Leap To Fame in last year’s Hunter Cup. It was the second time Swayzee had led and beaten Leap To Fame.

“He’s going to have to earn it now, that’s for sure,” Leap To Fame’s trainer-driver Grant Dixon said.

“The draw isn’t perfect, but we’ve had more difficult ones. The way I see it, there’s as many positives as negatives.

“I rate Kingman the hardest to beat and the back row isn’t good for him, so that’s a help, but then you’ve got Swayzee and Republican Party (gate one) drawn inside us.

“Republican Party is the biggest winner from the draw. As we know, especially at Melton, the fence is gold in these races and he’ll be on the fence, either behind the leader or three pegs.

“We’re going to have to be right at the top of our game, but all the signs are he is.”

Leap To Fame is lining up for his fifth start in as many weeks, but Dixon said it suited him.

“That’s where he’s different to most horses, he just thrives on it and bounces out of a big race looking for the next one,” he said.

“This is the third time he’s had an extended stint down in Melbourne and it’s by far the happiest we’ve been with him.

“He seems as good as this as he has all trip. He’s really bright, holding his weight and eating up.

“We’ve just got four more days to keep him this well.”

Leap To Fame’s three latest wins in the Ballarat, Cranbourne and Kilmore Cups make him the only horse eligible for HRV’s new $1 million Summer Carnival bonus if he wins the Hunter Cup.

Victory will also give him a share of the record for Group 1 wins by Australasian pacer on 16 with former greats Westburn Grant and Lazarus.

While most expect Swayzee to take advantage of gate two and find the lead, much focus will be on what Emma Stewart’s trio Oliver Dan (gate three), Miki To Success (four) and War Dan Buddy (five) – all fast beginners – do at the start.

If one or more of them crossed Swayzee early, it could aid Leap To Fame’s cause.

Superstar trotting mare Keayang Zahara’s quest for a 13th Group 1 win in the Saturday night’s Great Southern Star has been aided by a good draw (gate five) in the first heat of the unique race.

Unlike any other Australian racing, the Great Southern Star consists of two heats early on Saturday night with the final about two hours later.

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