3 minute read
Consistency and versatility have been the hallmarks of Dance Music’s career to date.
Those qualities help explain why trainer Simon A Miller can't hide his admiration for the mare.
The daughter of War Chant is giving Miller and owners a great ride, to this point winning 11 races and close to one million dollars in earnings.
Dance Music's signature wins include the Placid Ark Stakes (1200m), the Northam Cup (1600m), the Starstruck Classic (1600m) and La Trice Classic (1800m).
She came desperately close to adding a fifth feature win to her racing resume two weeks ago after a close second to stable mate Valour Road in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m).
Ridden by Brad Parnham, Dance Music was in front for much of the race until she was nabbed in the dying stages by Valour Road and lost by a long head.
The Group 3 race was another minor placing for Dance Music after consecutive thirds in the Roma Cup (1200m) and Belmont Sprint (1400m).
Miller is confident Dance Music can bounce back and end her winter campaign on a positive note.
He rates her a top winning hope in the Breast Cancer Research Centre Of WA-Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont Park on Saturday.
"I think she is in career best form, purely because she's playing weight for age from the get-go this time in," Miller said.
"She has been really, really good every time and a I thought her run in the Hyperion Stakes was brilliant.
"I think she will run out a strong 2000m, I queried if she could get 1800m in the La Trice and she did that easily enough.
"It's not like there are big guns coming at you because she beat them all bar the winner in the Hyperion.
"She doesn't have to lead on Saturday, but you presume she would because she pops out quick and puts herself there.
"I will say she leads, but she doesn't have to.
"She's just totally in the zone this time in."
The Velvet King and Leading Girl lead current TAB markets at $3.30.
Dance Music is on the next line, rated a $5.50 chance.
Dance Music jumps from barrier six. Brad Parnham retains the ride. He won the Strickland Stakes on Fancy Feet in 2014.
Meanwhile Miller says he gives the nod to Miss Conteki over stable mate Panzdown in a hot edition of the Amelia Park Handicap (1000m).
Miller has both gallopers firing with Miss Conteki a winner in seven of eight races including an unbeaten stretch of four this campaign.
Panzdown was chasing five in a line two weeks ago, but lost no admirers when going down to Nerodio by a long head.
Against his better judgement, Miller said he was inclined to run both horses in the same race.
"I was going to run Panzdown next week, but he worked that good on Tuesday that I switched back to this race," Miller said.
"You would have to lean to Miss Conteki because she's had eight starts for seven wins and she has knocked off Nerodio.
"Panzdown is clearly going places and off his work on Tuesday he can definitely beat her.
"He has to elevate, but he's in career best form.
"I hate having two runners in the same race, but Panzdown's work was impossible to ignore."
Miss Conteki is into $1.90 favoritism, firming from $2.20. Panzdown also holds support and has tightened to $4 after he opened at $4.40.
