Dancing Star to waltz to success at Windsor
DANCING STAR takes a dip in class to Listed level at Windsor on Monday, but the move can pay dividends in the Weatherbys Private Bank Leisure Stakes.
The four-year-old looked a future star in the mould of her esteemed relative Lochsong when winning the Stewards’ Cup last year, but things have gone a little awry since that triumph.
She really did look a horse on the up when lifting the ultra-competitive handicap prize with the minimum of fuss to supplement three other wins, including a defeat of subsequent dual Listed winner Priceless.
A hike up to a mark of 108 perhaps slightly forced Andrew Balding’s hand and Dancing Star was duly found out when tried in Group One company, finishing down the field in the Sprint Cup on what was her final outing of 2016.
She had chance to regroup over the winter, but cut little ice when beaten six lengths by Marsha in the Palace House Stakes, although Dancing Star was sticking on gamely at the end over five furlongs.
The minimum trip may well be a bit on the short side for her given that all her wins have come at six furlongs and a move back up in distance combined with easier company must make Dancing Star a major player here.
She has a bit to find on the official figures with the likes of Mr Lupton and Tropics, but it is hard to believe there may not be more to come from this lightly-raced type.
Some decent performers have landed the Thames Valley Air Ambulance Fillies’ Novice Stakes in previous years and Richard Hannon’s Out Of The Flames should not be ignored.
Hannon won the race with Kool Kompany a couple of years ago and Out Of The Flames looks another promising runner judged on her debut third at Ascot earlier this month.
The Showcasing filly was beaten just millimetres in a three-way photo finish after starting from a low draw and she should improve again for the experience.
Dathanna is one to note for Godolphin in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes as she boasts a nice pedigree as a daughter of Dubawi, while Mark Of Excellence is another eyecatching newcomer at Leicester.
He cost 110,000 guineas as a yearling and could be another to boost Godolphin’s good recent run of form in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.