“It’s the draw he needed to have a chance of winning in such a hot race,” he said. “Pulling the pole is a great bonus. It’s the fastest way home.”
The Republican Party rose from $12 to $4.60 after drawing gate one for the $250,000 feature in Melton on Saturday evening.
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 in the back row (10).
Dalgety said the Republican Party would be a lot fitter for Leap To Fame’s runner-up finish in the Group 1 Kilmore Cup last week.
“He went from a chance to a burst in the last 80 metres, but we expected that with five weeks between runs,” he said.
“He blew a lot over the back and the run will benefit him a lot. We needed a good draw this week and we 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.
Powerful stayer and archrival Swayzee is the most likely of the bigs to find the lead from gate two and Leap To Fame may have to sit out of him.
Swayzee used a better draw to take the lead, break the track record and beat a brave Leap To Fame in last year’s Hunter Cup. It was the second time Swayzee led and defeated Leap To Fame.
“He’s going to have to earn it now, that’s for sure,” said Leap To Fame’s trainer-driver Grant Dixon.
“The draw is not perfect, but we have had more difficult draws. The way I see it, there are as many positives as there are negatives.
“I think Kingman is the hardest to beat and the back row isn’t good for him, so that helps, but then you’ve drawn Swayzee and the Republican Party (gate one) into us.
“The Republican Party is the biggest winner of the draw. As we know, especially with Melton, the fence is gold in these races and he will be on the fence either behind the leader or behind three pegs.”
“We will have to be at the top, but everything indicates that 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 from most horses, he just thrives on it and leaves a big race looking for the next one,” he said.
“This is the third time he has spent an extended period in Melbourne and it is by far the happiest we have experienced with him.
“He seems as good as he has been the whole trip. He’s really smart, holds his weight and eats food.”
“We still have four days to keep him this good.”
Leap To Fame’s three latest victories 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.
The win will also give him a share of the record for Group 1 victories by Australasian pacer at 16 with former greats Westburn Grant and Lazarus.
While most expect Swayzee to take advantage of gate two and find the lead, much of the focus will be on what Emma Stewart’s trio of 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 were to cross Swayzee early, it could help Leap To Fame’s cause.
Superstar trotting mare Keayang Zahara’s quest for a 13th Group 1 win in Saturday night’s Great Southern Star was helped by a good draw (gate five) in the first leg of the unique race.
Unlike all other Australian races, the Great Southern Star consists of two heats early on Saturday evening and the final about two hours later.
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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