Dancarina Dashes Home

Commanding favouritism, Dancarina (3 f Sebring - Dance for Me, by Commands) ran out the strong winner of the $12,000 Bream Bay Maiden 1400 metres on 9 February at Ruakaka.

Dancarina galloped home strongly to win at the trials on 21 December at Ellerslie, ran the fastest last 600m (34.6) for third to stable-mate Highborn (Savabeel) - delivering a Te Akau first four - when debuting in a Maiden 1200 metres on 12 January at Matamata, and was heavily speculated in betting ($1.90 & $1.20).

Although drawn awkwardly (10) and made to work before settling outside the leader, Dancarina was poised turning for home, led at the 200m and found plenty for rider Opie Bosson to score comfortably by one length.

In showery conditions, on footing that remained Dead5, Dancarina ran 1400 metres in 1:23.7.

“She was really good there today,” said premiership leading trainer Jamie Richards, recording his 80^thwin this season.

“It's probably not the way to ride her for the future, but we had been getting back on a couple of our horses earlier in the programme and not making any ground, and the track seemed to playing up-and-on-speed, as it can do sometimes at Ruakaka.

“So we took bad luck out of the equation, went forward to sit outside the leader, quickened in nicely and she won well.”

Owned by Fortuna Dancarina Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she was purchased by  David Ellis CNZM for $100,000 for Fortuna Syndicators at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from draft of Widden Stud.

She is by top-class Australian two-year-old and Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner Sebring (Danehill), the sire of over 111 stakes' winners among 1950 wins including 17 Group Ones. Her dam Dance for Me (Commands) won twice to 1400 metres in Australia, and is from a good winning family that included third dam, Champion 2YO Filly in NZ, Ballroom Babe (Citidancer).

“She is a very attractive filly that took a bit of time to mature and develop, but we've allowed her to do that,” Galvin said. “She's shaping into quite a nice type and I think Jamie (Richards) and the team like her a lot.

“The 1400m to 1600m is probably going to be her go, but never say never and she could well develop into a middle distance horse at some stage.

“It was a good ride by Opie (Bosson) after being four wide early, pressing on to be in the box seat and they would have had to run her down. She looked to have them covered over the last 200m.

“She's out of a Commands mare, which is interesting, given that he sired Melody Belle. The second dam, by Fusiachi Pegasus, was a very well performed Group 2 winner, third in Arrowfield Stud Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Surround Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), so it's a nice family, and Ballroom Babe went on win the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).”

Being bought at Gold Coast Sale, Dancarina is also eligible for $1m Syndicators' Race during the Magic Millions Carnival in January next year.

“She's a filly that's always shown plenty of ability, but has been slow to mature and has battled a few aches and pains,” Richards added. “John (Galvin) has been really patient with her, allowed us to take her along quietly and his team has been well rewarded with a good win.

“Laura Macnab is doing a great job at the Uni Barn, we're she's stabled, having to step up since Hunter Durrant took a couple of horses for us to Ozzie, so congratulations and thank you to her for the long hours she's put in, as well as everyone else in our team.

“We've all been going hard without the rub of the green through the weather and cancellations, but good to get her up and win for the Fortuna team.”

Dancarina was strapped by Katija Cherie.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz