Bax’s Derby hope already a big hit
Win, lose or draw in the New Zealand Derby on Saturday, exciting filly Danzdanzdance has already achieved more at this stage of her career than Cambridge part-owner and former international supermodel Kylie Bax dreamed of.
‘‘She’s exceeded the expectations of myself and the other owners,’’ Bax, now a prominent horse 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 near Whangarei, the filly, a $5000 buy at the Karaka yearling sales, has won once from four starts and her laststart second in the Group II Avondale Guineas (2100m) has her a $5 co-favourite with Scott Base for the $1 million Vodafone-sponsored classic at Ellerslie in Auckland.
‘‘It’s too far to go to Trentham for the (New Zealand) 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 Group I 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 I 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 I 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 Group Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m). - NZ Racing Desk