3 minute read
Danzdanzdancing her way to Sydney; Richards pleased with Oaks pair
Danzdanzdancing her way to Sydney
Group One-winning mare Danzdanzdance pushed star mare Melody Belle all the way in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Saturday and her connections believe that run has topped her off nicely ahead of her Sydney campaign.
“I’m just ecstatic with how our mare has pulled up after the race,” said Chris Gibbs, who trains the four-year-old with Michelle Bradley.
“She looks wonderful, she didn’t really tighten up with the run.
“On Monday I put a saddle on her and she was just bouncing. She hasn’t left an oat, so I am really happy.
“The two mares went really hard on a heavy track, and it does take it out of them, but I’m really happy. It just makes you feel good about putting her on the plane next Monday.”
Danzdanzdance is being set for a two-run Sydney campaign where she will team-up once again with jockey Opie Bosson, who was committed to ride Melody Belle in Saturday’s contest.
“Michelle will meet her over there and we are staying with the Lee boys,” Gibbs said.
“She’s going back into the same yard she stayed in as a three-year-old when she went there and she settled in there beautifully.
“That’s a big thing when you travel that far. If you can put them back into the same routine as what she has already been through she should just settle in and let down really quickly.
“Opie hopped off and he will hop straight back on again. We are happy to have him onboard, he does know her really well.”
The grey daughter of Mastercraftsman will initially contest the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on March 23, before a potential tilt at the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) where she will likely meet glamour mare Winx.
“We decided on the Ranvet and then the Queen Elizabeth. It is what it is, you can’t be scared off by one horse (Winx),” Gibbs said.
“She is going to have to prove herself in the Ranvet (before starting in the Queen Elizabeth.”
Richards pleased with Oaks pair
Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards will take two fillies south to contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham and he believes they are both winning chances.
Shezathinka and Savy Yong Blonk will represent the stable and both fillies head into the race in good form, with Shezathinka finishing runner-up last start in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings, while Savy Yong Blonk ran on for third in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) earlier this month.
“They are two really nice fillies that ran second and third in the lead-up races,” Richards said.
“Shezathinka is still a maiden, but she is an exciting filly. I’m disappointed she hasn’t won a race before now, but we wanted to give her a crack at the Lowland and to split Queen Of Diamonds and Imelda Mary was a really good effort.
“She will go into the race in good order, a mile and a-half is no problem.
“Savy Yong Blonk is a really exciting Savabeel filly. She was really unlucky at Ellerslie, she got taken out at the corner when she was making her run and to balance up and pick herself up to finish third was a really good effort.”
Chris Johnson will travel north to ride Shezathinka, while Michael McNab will be aboard Savy Yong Blonk.
