3 minute read
Rejuvenated speedster Last Chance Dance ($16 on TAB) is tripping the light fantastic at big value and Scone trainer Scott Singleton and jockey Jay Ford are perfect partners into a Rosehill Gardens TAB $75,000, 1100m Class 3, flyer on Saturday.
They've made all the right moves for the bigger stage after Last Chance Dance led to win a Gosford Class 3 Highway last month and Scott Singleton won a double, ridden by Jay Ford at Tuesday's Scone TAB meeting.
Ford followed up spectacularly off a winning double at Royal Randwick last Saturday on Adelong and Lina's Hero.
Intriguingly at two years, Last Chance Dance was considered promising enough to contest the 2018 Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes for fillies when trained by Luke Hilton.
The form of the now four-year-old Unencumbered mare tapered off to the extent it took her a dozen starts to finally breakthrough in a modest Dubbo maiden last July and then was sold.
After a freshen Last Chance Dance found form and consistency with a succession of placings before well-backed ($8 into $6.50) and leading to win a Class 3 episode at Gosford with 54kg for Robbie Dolan, and she rises to 56kg for Ford at headquarters.
"I've known this mare from way back; I had a runner in that Gimcrack and when Luke sold up, the mum one of the girls that works for me bought her online, so it's nice when things fall into place," Scott explained in the midst of riding trackwork."
She's so genuine as her recent form indicates she's got that turn of foot to put herself in the race.
"If anything, she's better suited back a bit to 1100m - she only just gets the '1200'.
"But we'd love a bit of rain as she excels with give in the ground. But couldn't be happier - she'll lead or be close enough to it."
Scott considers Saturday's episode is a far deeper race than the Gosford Highway.
It sees the return of Ice In Vancouver ($1.80 favourite) who qualified for last season's The Kosciuszko won by massive talent It's Me, after brilliant wins by wide margins at Scone.
Primed by a recent Tamworth trial, Cody Morgan's sprinter carried 61kg to win just as impressively first-up over 1000m in near-record time at Tamworth.
"He's the quality, but he's drawn way out in an '1100' and there's decent depth in the race."
Ice in Vancouver is drawn to jump from barrier 14, but is likely to come in a couple more through emergencies failing to secure a start in a capacity field.
Despite the horror draw, he has been installed as favourite, however, the barrier and the Vancouver three-year-old with 59.5kg conceding weight and experience to older sprinters is the deterrent.
Rosehill Gardens is a Good 4 but there is rain about in Sydney on Thursday and Friday with the rail out 6m from the 1350m to the winning post and out 4m the remainder.
