Dalgetys out to keep winning roll going at Addington tonight

By Michael Guerin

Cran Dalgety says it is great to have the stable back firing on all cylinders.

And while he and wife Chrissie won’t be taking their absolute elite to Addington tonight he thinks they could come away with a winning double.

Team Dalgety may sit fourth on the national premiership with 37 wins following a treble at Ashburton last Sunday with Cherish Me, Freeze Frame and Franco Sinatra, but their recent northern campaign wasn’t much fun as many of their reps were hit by a bug that even saw the ever reliable Republican Party race below his best.

“It was just one of those things,” says Cran.

“When you go on a hit and run mission up there you can usually get away with it but being up there for a prolonged period of time with some horses who don’t have their immunity built up to new bugs, we had a bit of a bad run.

“But they are home and healthy now and we have a bit of luck at Ashburton on Sunday so that is all behind us.”

It hasn’t all been disappointment of course with Tour Party being outstanding in the juvenile ranks and Show Stopper having won the Macca Lodge Southland Oaks five weeks ago. 

She returns alongside stablemates Bettor Than Lizzy (R7, No.6) and Bettor Belle (No.8) in the Tyre General Silk Road heat (7.57pm) tonight.

“They are all good horses but Show Stopper has the best form having won the Southland Oaks, which usually makes you a pretty good filly.

“But because of that she gets get the worst draw. She is still our best chance but will need some luck.”

“The other two are right in it but it is a good even field so it should be a good series.”

The greatest threat to the Dalgety trio should be Cinderella Franco (No. 11) while Ultimate Seisation is back after a good end to 2025 and has trialled well.

Joyride finds herself taking on the boys in the handicap pace (8.59pm) and Dalgety says while that is to split their fillies and mares up Joyride has plenty going for her tonight.

“She won from a stand last week and is a pretty good mare who things went wrong for when we sent her over to Victoria last year.

“But she has bounced back from that and she is a chance albeit against some nice progressive horses.”

Meanwhile, the stable superstar and reigning NZ Pacer of the Year in Republican Party is spelling with the Dalgetys under no illusions of the challenge that awaits him at the back end of 2026.

“It is definitely going to be harder for him here with two or three really good horses coming through but we know he will turn up for the fight.

“It is not going to be easy to beat Got The Chocolates, because last season I would have taken Marketplace over him but now I am not so sure. 

“Add in Leap To Fame and a few others maybe coming back for the New Zealand Cup and it should be a fascinating spring.”