The combination of Cran, Chrissie and Carter Dalgety proved unstoppable when their 5-year-old made a brilliant beginning to set up a powerful front-running victory at Ascot Park.
The win was something of a carbon copy of the combination’s win with Krug when the feature was run at group 1 level for the first time two years ago.
Even though he had done it all before with another star pacer trained by his parents, Carter Dalgety was left lost for words by the victory.
"I am pinching myself, really. This horse deserved a big race and everything worked out good," Carter said.
"I am a bit speechless, to be honest."
Carter was quick to credit his father for Republican Party’s electric Invercargill Cup beginning.
Cran made a surprise move to add a shadow roll to the pacer’s gear, something he was not wearing when he ran a brilliant third in the New Zealand Cup.
"I have a to give the credit to Dad. He made the late call to put the shadow roll on and it worked a treat," Carter said.
"He began that well. He put himself in a beautiful spot after 200m."
While Cran was chuffed to add yet another group 1 win to his glittering harness racing resume, he admitted combining with his son added another dimension to the victory.
"It is hard to explain. Those are the warm fuzzies you get that make it all pretty special.
"You want to see your kids do well and for him to jump into this profession and follow in the family footsteps it is a great thrill."
The Dalgety combination also claimed the Sires Stakes Southern Solstice with Magician before notching another special win with Wallflower in the Canada Stakes.
The feature race is named after the late Canada Broad, the daughter of Southern Harness Racing boss Jason Broad.
Canada died from cancer this year.
"You try to get a horse good enough to compete in a race like this, and you don’t think about winning it.
"When we were able to win it, with Jason there, it was very special."
Muscle Mountain produced another of the star turns.
The star trotter sat off the speed before being lit up at the 800m as he won in another all-family affair for Greg, Nina and Ben Hope.
Ben Hope drove a patient race with the favourite, partially due to some cat-and-mouse mid-race tactics in front of him, but it played right into Muscle Mountain’s hands.
"I just thought being a long-distance race and we were off a bit of a handicap, so I thought I would let him settle early," Ben said.
"He’s a lovely horse and while I respected the field, if he is on song he is as good as any of them and he proved it today."
