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Dalchini in Hot form ahead of Danish

3 minute read

Lee and Cherie Curtis are out to mastermind another Cup week upset.

Trainer : LEE CURTIS after, LET ME REIGN winning the THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP
Trainer : LEE CURTIS after, LET ME REIGN winning the THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

Melbourne Cup week revives fond memories for Lee and Cherie Curtis and they hope to make new ones this year when Dalchini contests the Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill. 

Seven years ago, Lee Curtis celebrated one of his biggest wins when Lasqueti Spirit sprang a major upset in the VRC Oaks at Flemington. 

While Cherie wasn't officially co-trainer at the time, she was a big part of the team and said every year Oaks week brought back fond recollections. 

"The anniversary is actually the third of November, so all my (social media) posts and memories come flooding back on that day," Curtis said. 

"It is a very special week for us so if it's a lucky week, that would nice." 

Team Curtis are hoping that luck strikes at their home track of Rosehill where Dalchini takes on a select field of six rivals in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m). 

The mare has been racing in tremendous heart, placing behind Magic Time in The Nivison (1200m) two starts ago then warming up late when going back from a wide draw in The Invitation (1400m) won by Espiona

She has the inside gate on Saturday and Curtis is hoping she can finally get the right conditions to land an overdue win. 

"She has only won one from twenty, but out of those twenty starts, she has been in about fifteen races where the tempo has been slower than average," Curtis said. 

"She's just had no luck whatsoever. 

"Her run in The Invitation was outstanding, if she'd drawn a gate I've no doubt she runs fourth at least. 

"Last prep she didn't quite come up, but this prep I've seen a different horse." 

Jockey Jay Ford has also been an integral part of Dalchini's journey. 

Ford has partnered the five-year-old in 17 of her 20 starts and Curtis says the hoop is confident she will eventually knock off a big one. 

"Jay Ford loves her," Curtis said. 

"He reckons she is a giant killer, he says, 'don't worry if they put you up 50-1 because if she gets conditions to suit, she can run past them. She has got the ability'. 

"She is just due for a change of luck." 

The Curtis' have a boutique operation of 18 in work and are content with that number, although there is always room for one or two more. 

Despite being a small stable, they almost always have a handy horse, Dalchini being their latest. 

"We do generally tend to find a nice filly here and there," Curtis said. 

"Our last one was (dual group winner) Meryl and her first foal went to the sales this year and made $1.4 million. That was a buzz when that happened, I was very proud of her." 


Racing and Sports

Rosehill

Saturday, 11th November 2023

6
15:30
(local)

JAMES SQUIRE HOT DANISH STAKES (G2)

Age: 3yo and up Sex: FM Type: OPEN
AUD $502,000
1400m TURF GOOD
6
15:30
(local)
AUD $502,000
1400m GOOD

JAMES SQUIRE HOT DANISH STAKES (G2)

Age: 3yo and up Sex: FM Type: OPEN
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 2. ROOTS (AUS) 5yo M
PRESS STATEMENT (AUS) - ARCTIC SUCCESS (AUS)
TOMMY BERRY
CHRIS WALLER
$3.2
57kg
Sheamus Mills Bloodstock P/L (Mgr: S A Mills), Newton Thoroughbreds Racing (Mgr: H F Newton) & Chesapeake Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Mgr: A J Roberts)

Sales Information

2nd 4. CALL DI (AUS) 4yo M
FRANKEL (GB) - SAMANTHA MISS (AUS)
NASH RAWILLER
G RYAN & S ALEXIOU
$3.7
57kg
Newgate Bloodstock (Mgr: H A Field), Hollymount Stud (Mgr: M B Sandblom) & Newgate S F (Mgr: G D Murphy)
3rd 3. FINEPOINT (AUS) 5yo M
PINS (AUS) - ZARZUELA (NZ)
ZAC LLOYD
CHRIS WALLER
$13
57kg
D Paykel & Mrs A C Paykel
4th 1. ROYAL MERCHANT (AUS) 4yo M
MERCHANT NAVY (AUS) - SEVENTHCHIC (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$3
57kg

Sales Information

5th 5. DALCHINI (AUS) 5yo M
FLYING ARTIE (AUS) - CINNAMON DOVE (USA)
JAY FORD
L & C CURTIS
$14
57kg

Sales Information

6th 6. MIRRA VIEW (AUS) 5yo M
MORE THAN READY (USA) - MIRRASALO (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
PETER & PAUL SNOWDEN
$31
57kg
7th 7. RUSSIAN CONQUEST (AUS) 4yo M
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (AUS) - MY CONQUESTADORY (USA)
REGAN BAYLISS
PETER & PAUL SNOWDEN
$16
57kg

Sales Information

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