Bax’s Derby horse already a massive hit
Win, lose or draw in this weekend’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), exciting filly Danzdanzdance has already achieved more at this stage of her career than Cambridge part-owner Kylie Bax dreamed of.
‘‘She’s exceeded the expectations of myself and the other owners,’’ the international supermodel turned breeder and syndicator said.
‘‘For such a cheap filly, and cheap doesn’t reflect her pedigree, to do what she has already done is amazing and it’s only the beginning.’’
Trained by Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs at Ruakaka, the $5000 Karaka yearling has won once from four appearances and her last-start second in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) has her a $5 co-favourite with Scott Base for Saturday’s Vodafone-sponsored classic at Ellerslie.
‘‘It’s too far to go to Trentham for the Oaks and Donna has had a bit of luck with fillies in the Derby,’’ Bax said.
The stable produced Habibi to win in 2013 and Rising Romance finished runner-up the following year. Danzdanzdance, whose name is taken from a Justin Timberlake lyric in his hit single Can’t Stop The Feeling, went through the Karaka ring in 2016.
‘‘She was bred by Mum and Dad and I bought her back at the Select Sale,’’ Bax said. Her parents, Helen-Gaye and Graham Bax, are part-owners of Blandford Lodge in Matamata with Wellington identity Lib Petagna. Bax’s earlier inspired purchase of Sunday evening’s Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) winner Beauty Generation, who raced as Montaigne in Australia, also influenced her to secure Mastercraftsman’s daughter Danzdanzdance.
‘‘I said to Dad that I couldn’t let her go, she had the same presence about her as Montaigne,’’ Bax said.
Danzdanzdance is out of the Danzero mare Night Danza and the family of the multiple Group One winner Lucia Valentina.
Beauty Generation was bought by Bax under her Hermes Syndications banner for $60,000 and was a two-time winner and Group One placed in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) for Sydney trainer Anthony Cummings before his purchase by Hong Kong interests.
‘‘Anthony approached me to find him a horse to syndicate and he specifically wanted a Road To Rock,’’ Bax said. Cummings prepared Road To Rock to win six races, including the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 George Main Stakes (1600m).
‘‘He gave me free rein to do the work on pedigrees, which I love to do, so I did all the research and settled on Montaigne. He was a beautiful-looking horse, a standout in my eyes, with a lovely nature and he was syndicated with a lot of Taranaki guys and girls involved and we got lucky with him.