Confidence no issue for Dalgety ahead of Invercargill Cup
Matt Markham - Raceform • December 18th, 2025 11:33 AM • 4 min read
There’s a lot of talk about what might happen in Friday’s Gr.1 Invercargill Cup in terms of who might do what and how the race could be run, but Carter Dalgety isn’t reading too much into it because he doesn’t have to.
The hotshot young horseman will have the reins on hot favourite Republican Party in the $100,000 event, and while rivals talk tactics and pathways toward potentially downing the public elect, Dalgety is sitting back with ever-building confidence.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just blind arrogance either – Dalgety has a whole heap of respect for his rivals on Friday. It’s more that the confidence he has in his own horse outweighs everything else.
“It’s a good field, and you don’t just win Group One races by turning up, so nothing should ever be taken for granted,” he told RaceForm this week.
“They’re going to make us work for it and we’re up for the challenge. If anything, I actually think they might end up making the race for us if it pans out how it looks like it will.”
The scenario should involve a lot of speed and tempo, with front-markers looking to run as even as possible in front around the tight-turning Invercargill track to make it hard for Dalgety and Republican Party to get into the race.
That’ll fall into the hands of the likes of boom up-and-comer The Lazarus Effect, who Dalgety knows well having driven him recently, along with We Walk By Faith and Alta Meteor.
“They’re really good horses, and if all of them begin and land on the speed, then it’s going to be interesting how strongly the race will be run.
“I’m not so worried about that though. I’m in the fortunate position of driving a horse who thrives on confidence, and that is right up for him at the moment. He’s looking great and feeling great, which gives us some options to work with.”
With Republican Party off a 20-metre handicap, the opportunity is definitely there for rivals to steal a bit of a march early. But as an excellent stand start exponent himself, there’s a chance he could be in the first half-dozen quickly too.
“Last year he started off 10 metres in the race and was in front after about 400 metres, he begins that quick. So we’ve got a few options. If the chance to press right on did present itself, I wouldn’t be afraid to take it. Otherwise we’ll just wait and see how things pan out.”
Last week’s victory, again as a short-priced favourite, was both emphatic and a little bit surprising for Dalgety given he was first up from Show Day and had to come from last.
“If you’d told me before the race that things would pan out like that and we’d still win, I don’t think I would have believed you. Even at the last point of the turn we were flat out, but he straightened up and just let down.
“Literally in the space of a few strides it felt like he just strode up and put them away and we were a length in front. I was pretty surprised by it, but he just felt so good doing it.”
That dismantling of a very good field, some of whom will return to battle this week, plus the days in between have only helped grow the confidence for this week.
“He’s absolutely low flying since the run, right in the zone. His work has been great and we know he’ll love a truly run contest over the 2700 metres. There’s a little bit of natural improvement in him too, I think.”
Dalgety, along with his parents Cran and Chrissie who train Republican Party, know a little bit about winning the Invercargill Cup. They have won two of the past four editions of the race – last year with Republican Party and four years ago with Krug, Carter’s first Group One-winning drive.
Safely through Friday, Republican Party will venture north once again, following the same path as 12 months ago as he looks to also defend his Gr.1 Auckland Cup title on New Year’s Eve.
After that, anything is possible, but a trip to Australia for more battles with the likes of Leap To Fame, Kingman, Don Hugo and Swayzee is likely.
Friday’s meeting could well be a big one for the stable with some serious firepower accompanying Republican Party down to Invercargill.
Dalgety leans towards The Queens Gambit as the stable’s other best chance of the day after her brave second last Friday night.
“She’s going great. I know it looked like she was going to run past the other horse last week, but he’s pretty good and she was still brave to the line.
“She’s a filly who gives you a lot of confidence, a big strong pacer who you wouldn’t be afraid to jump around and sit parked with because she’ll thrive on it. I think she’ll be hard to beat.”
The other horse from last Friday night is Eun Sogno, a two-year-old pacer with a future.
“He just keeps taking the next step up each time you ask him. He really fought back bravely last week to win that race, and while he’s going to be even better this time next year, he’s strong enough now to rough it with them and come out on top.”
Another two-year-old, Treacherous Dreams, rounds out the Dalgety team and he too looks a strong prospect on his recent form which has included a placing behind the talented Sonofamistery at his last start.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to RaceForm and get your copy delivered each week.
