Danza Lad earns trip to Brisbane

DANZA LAD capped off a near perfect day for trainer Rudy Liefting when he further pressed his claims at Awapuni for a trip to Melbourne.

The six- year- old won for the ninth time in his career with a tenacious victory in Saturday’s Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup to complete a double for the stable following A Tad Leica’s earlier success in the three-year-old event.

And at Te Rapa, Just Got Home thrilled Liefting with his secondup effort to finish runner-up in the Porritt Sand Waikato Hurdles and confirm he was in good touch for his forthcoming Australian campaign.

‘‘I’ll be plotting a path to the Grand National Hurdles with him,’’ Liefting said. ‘‘He went a really good race and he’s peaking for the trip.’’

Danza Lad is likely to accompany Just Got Home to Victoria where he will have two strings to his bow having recently earned his jumping ticket.

‘‘He would race on the flat to see how he measures up and I will be tempted to give him his first hurdle start over there as well,’’ Liefting said.

‘‘I thought the ground may have been a bit too heavy for him at Awapuni and the Melbourne winter tracks should really suit him.’’

Danza Lad raced close to the pace and he proved too tough for Duffers Creek and Taurus in the straight.

While Liefting has never questioned Danza Lad’s quality, he is being forced to alter his opinion of A Tad Leica.

‘‘She’s better than I thought she was,’’ he said. ‘‘She’s only tiny but she’s got some heart.’’

Out of a half-sister to Liefting’s multiple Group One winner Justa Tad, the dam of Just Got Home, she won her maiden on the track last month and handled a rise in class to claim the SB Contractors/ Taylor Agriculture 3YO at the expense of Darci Mac and Leeds.