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It’ll take just over 70 seconds at Rosehill on Saturday for trainer Terry Robinson so know whether lightly raced mare Danzadel will be given her chance to contest the Newhaven Park South East Country Championship next month.
Terry Robinson is of course the reigning Country Championships winning trainer after Art Cadeau's heroics in 2021 and he's long thought Danzadel has the ability to earn a shot at the $150,000 regional race.
The problem is, and this will be tested in the TAB Highway (1200m) on Saturday, she has a habit of running her race before she jumps out of the gates.
"She used to work with (Art Cadeau) and that's why I always thought she may make the grade,'' Robinson said.
"Her manners haven't helped her whereas he's a real professional horse.
"She's got the ability but she hasn't helped herself in the past by being a very hot mare, she's got to learn to relax otherwise she's in trouble. I'm hoping this time in she may be a bit more settled.
"I've taken her four times to the races without racing her and she seems to relax better. Obviously it's different when you get the saddle on and that will be tested on Saturday."
Danzadel contested four Highway races last preparation for two placings, including first-up second to Mr Hussill, but wasn't beaten more than 2.4 lengths in any of them.
Robinson, who is the leading eligible Highway trainer with 21 wins to date, said it's likely the mare will have another run before the Country Championship over 1400m at Nowra on February 13 but she needs to improve her rating first-up to warrant continuing that way.
"She needs the rating points, she only has a 62 rating which is well below what you'd need to get into our race,'' he said.
"If there's a bit of rain around she likes the sting out of the ground, she's drawn a nice gate which is important at Rosehill, we have a good jockey, so it's really up to her to see how she handles it all.
"Hopefully if things work out we can plan ahead."
Rosehill was a heavy 8 on Thursday after 71mm of rain overnight.
While Danzadel hasn't had a public trial Robinson confirmed she has had one private trial that he was more than happy with but says her manners have be the more significant impact on her performance.
So Say You, a last start 1800m Highway winner at Rosehill in early December, is Robinson's current top seed heading into the Newhaven Park Country Championships and he's yet to decide whether she tackles the 1400m race at Nowra first or second-up.
"I may give her a lead up run, she's back in work and we'll see how she comes up,'' he said.
"She was a hot filly too but now her manners are so much better. She's a nice honest mare, her benchmark is up there so she will get a run and the money is so good you've got to have a go."
And Art Cadeau, of course the first horse to win the Country Championships and Kosciuszko double, is back in work after a rare poor performance in the Festival Stakes back in November.
He said the gelding has returned "the best he ever has from a spell" so is upbeat he can regain his best form and measure up to a Group race through the carnival.
