Carter Dalgety aims for Group 1 wins at Alexandra Park races
Dalgety will drive exceptional pacing filly Beside Me in the $100,000 Pascoes Oaks, and Republican Party in the $100,000 Dawson Harford Messenger, and the plan with both is simple: be on the markers.
That looks certain with Republican Party (barrier one), who finally gets a good draw in the 2700m mobile and has options to lead - but more likely trail - either Rakero Rocket or Chase A Dream.
'It is so good to get a good draw with him because he has been going great [in] races but covering so much ground,' says Dalgety.
'In these big staying races, being on the markers is so crucial and he is going well enough to win.
'He might have had a busy summer and autumn, but he is so relaxed and cruisy in training he takes nothing out of himself, and I think that really helps.'
Trailing Rakero Rocket, who in turn could make favourite Chase A Dream work, would be the ideal scenario for Republican Party.
But if Chase A Dream can work to the lead and put him three back on the markers, his task becomes far more difficult - but not impossible.
It probably matters a lot less what happens to Beside Me in the Oaks as she looks to be a wonderful staying filly who is perfectly suited for the step up to 2700m tonight. She showed good gate speed for catch driver Tony Herlihy last Saturday, and our most successful reinsman ever says the filly is the real deal.
'It is cool hearing Tony talk about her like that, and I'd like to go forward and lead on her,' says Dalgety. 'I don't think she has to lead to win, but being on the markers would be way better.'
While Arafura is a smart front-runner having drawn the ace, she does have Without You on her back, so if she leads and gets attacked early, she would be better relenting than leading with enemies all around.
Stella Rouge has looked a very, very good filly, and in any normal Oaks would be the favourite, but drawn outside Beside Me and the other favourites, she is going to need to do something special to win.
Dalgety is looking at another ground-saving run with The Queens Gambit (R3, No.1) in the 2-year-old fillies races tonight but says with the Delightful Lady Final next week, he might prefer to trail Australian visitor Ripples as she heads forward at the start.
Ripples was a brilliant winner of the Bathurst Gold Tiara in a 1:53.9 mile rate last start and will be the first New Zealand start for Victorian training superstar Emma Stewart. If she leads, only a failure to handle the right-handed Alexandra Park would seem a danger to her.
What they said about the group 1s
R5, Pascoes Northern Oaks: 'She is a really good filly, she doesn't feel like she is going fast when she is,' last Saturday's catch driver Tony Herlihy on Beside Me.
R6, Breckons Trotting Derby: 'Our filly went great last week but Meant To Be has to be the one to beat on his last start win,' John Dunn on Ya Rite Darl.
R7, Woodlands Northern Derby: 'He will be back to his Harness Million [winning] fitness levels this week,' Marketplace's trainer Regan Todd.
R8, Fiskens Anzac Cup: 'They will run so hard how all those good horses step and where they end up will be crucial,' Oscar Bonavena's trainer Mark Purdon.
R9, Dawson Harford Messenger: 'I'd love it if we could trail Rakero Rocket and he stayed in front,' Carter Dalgety on Republican Party.
Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald's Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world's biggest horse racing carnivals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Return To Conquer's race plans delayed until next year after Aussie setback
Last season's superstar colt Return To Conquer won't race again this year. The Group 1 winner, who was unbeaten in four starts here, has been sidelined with a slight issue after his first Australian appearance in a jump out at Cranbourne two weeks ago. Trainer Mark Walker, who is mostly
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Stythe among strong Steel presence in Silver Ferns
Southern Steel defender Carys Stythe has joined the Heffernan twins and Kimiora Poi in this year's Silver Ferns squad. Stythe, who has been in the Ferns Development Squad, impressed on her move south from the Northern Mystics this year. She has been rewarded as one of six newcomers in the national squad for 2025/26. Other new faces were defenders Catherine Hall and Kate Burley, alongside shooting trio Filda Vui, Martina Salmon and Saviour Tui. Sisters Kate and Georgia Heffernan reprise their spots, Georgia getting a recall after missing out on the latter part of last year. Kimiora Poi, who was recalled to the Ferns last year and moved the Steel for this season, also features in the midcourt. Star shooter Grace Nweke headlines the team, having been given an exemption under the updated eligibility criteria. That makes her eligible to play for the Silver Ferns throughout 2025 and 2026, despite playing in the Australian league this year. She is joined in the shooting circle which includes Amelia Walmsley, Heffernan, Vui, Salmon and Tui. Shooters Maia Wilson, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, and Tiana Metuarau were all unavailable for selection for the 2025 season. In the defensive circle Stythe, Hall and Burley are joined by established trio Karin Burger, Kelly Jackson and Parris Mason. Jane Watson was unavailable. Midcourter Toeava has also earned a recall, having debuted in the black dress in 2018 and earning eight test caps. Toeava spent years feeding Nweke at the Mystics, the pair having an almost telepathic connection. Stars midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan is also back in the Silver Ferns squad after 10 months out in 2024 with an ACL injury. Mystics midcourter Tayla Earle, who earned two test caps in January last year, has also been promoted from the development squad. Poi, Heffernan and Maddy Gordon round out the midcourt, while Whitney Souness and Claire O'Brien both miss out. Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua said it was exciting to finalise the squad, particularly ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games and the Netball World Cup the year after. "We have a number of experienced players who are unavailable for selection for the upcoming Silver Ferns' matches so this is an important time to build new connections and combinations ahead of two massive pinnacle event years," she said. "I was very pleased to see Grace apply for an exemption under the updated eligibility criteria and process and we are thrilled that the Netball New Zealand Board approved it so she can play for the Silver Ferns in 2025 and 2026." Taurua said Hall and Stythe both earned their places in the squad through their consistency on the ANZ Premiership court this year. "It's exciting to know most of these current squad members have the potential to be around for a few Netball World Cup cycles. These squads are demonstrating the new generation of players coming through and the depth we have been building over numerous years. This is our opportunity to bring them together to work towards a common goal." The Silver Ferns team to play in next month's Taini Jamison Trophy will be selected in early September. 2025/2026 Silver Ferns squad SHOOTERS Grace Nweke Amelia Walmsley Martina Salmon Georgia Heffernan Filda Vui Saviour Tui MIDCOURTERS Maddy Gordon Kate Heffernan Mila Reuelu-Buchanan Peta Toeava Tayla Earle Kimiora Poi DEFENDERS Karin Burger Kate Burley Kelly Jackson Catherine Hall Carys Stythe Parris Mason - Allied Media / RNZ
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Activewear brand LSKD to open Ponsonby store, its fourth in NZ
It currently has 24 stores in Australia, the latest opening in Adelaide, and three stores in New Zealand. The fourth will open in Ponsonby central on August 30. Daniels hopes to have nine to 10 stores across New Zealand. 'We opened our first store in Takapuna in November last year, and then Christchurch this year in March, and then recently in Mount Maunganui ... I've been over for all of them, and then I'll be over for Ponsonby Central as well,' Daniels said. 'We've really tried to focus on creating something bigger than ourselves, but at the same time, really honing in on the functional fitness community through training, running, and local athletes.' More than 900 people attended the LSKD opening in Christchurch. Jason Daniels, CEO and founder of LSKD, says he tries to stay humble as the business has grown. Photo / LSKD The business has been entirely self-funded. LSKD has also expanded into the US, with a team of 12 currently based at an office in San Diego, along with a retail store and community room for customers. The business has a third-party logistics warehouse in Texas set to go live in October, laying the platform for more physical locations across the US. Scouting locations for the business in the US is Rachel Kosiak, who spent a year driving across the country in a van to help build the brand's New Zealand teams and connect with the communities, before they eventually began launching physical stores. 'It's really cool trying to develop our team and help their careers grow. Whether it's the New Zealand team or the Australian team, the fact that they have an opportunity to travel the world, it's exciting. 'We're starting to see a lot of growth in other countries as well, as we're seeing functional fitness really grow around the world.' Daniels has big ambitions for the brand and hopes one day it can compete with international sportswear brands across the world. Although market share wasn't on his mind. The key to success for Daniels is staying grounded and true to the identity of the company, something he said he 'doesn't want to lose'. 'In 2010, when I went fulltime, when I finished being a chippy and I was in my early 20s, I don't think I would have handled it. 'It's very surreal. I didn't expect it to, if I'm honest, to grow this fast. We don't share this too much, but our first five-year goal was to just hit A$10m and be profitable, and stay true to who we are.' Daniels likened the company's success to that of a sports team like the All Blacks, saying they are only as good as their last game. Daniels said he couldn't wait for customers to see the Ponsonby central store, which features a mural by local artist Andrew Steele. Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
