Danzdanzdance waltzes away with classic
The Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained Danzdanzdance made it consecutive Group One successes when winning the Zabeel Classic in sensational fashion at Ellerslie.
The daughter of Mastercraftsman made light-work of her rivals last start in the Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham and delivered a similarly dominant performance yesterday, holding a three-and-a-half-length margin on the line over Lizzie L’Amour.
Jon Snow was a further eightand-a-half-lengths away in third.
Calmly handled by Opie Bosson, Danzdanzdance settled at the rear of the field before looping her rivals around the home bend.
The champion hoop ensured the mare was balanced before unleashing the afterburners midtrack on the heavy 10 surface and she put her rivals away with ease.
‘‘Opie rode her beautifully,’’ Gibbs said.
‘‘It all panned out the way we thought it might.
‘‘I must admit I was a little bit worried when he made his run and they all started to fan and he ended up so wide but she was just too good.’’
Gibbs indicated the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa on February 9 would be the mare’s next likely assignment before an international campaign is considered.
‘‘We will just see after that but the Doncaster has got to be a big chance and then after that we don’t know,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re going to enjoy it.’’
Winning jockey Opie Bosson recorded his 60th Group One win when successful on Danzdanzdance.
In the other major race of the day, lightly raced filly Pinmedown caused an upset when winning the Eight Carat Classic, paying $33.40 for the win.
Prepared at Matamata by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, Pinmedown was having just her fourth raceday start.
A last-start midweek winner at Hawke’s Bay, Pinmedown was ridden to her second career success by Australian jockey Jake Bayliss.
‘‘She has always been a nice filly and Pam has done a great job with her,’’ Moroney said.
‘‘She was quite happy to throw her in the deep end and it has worked out the right way.’’