Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {IRE}) hit a pure note on Saturday and went to the top of the Group 1 chart with a spectacular victory in the Rydges Wellington Captain Cook S.
Trained by Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley, the dashing grey mare turned on a Trentham masterclass to distance her rivals in the hands of Opie Bosson and have part-owner and former supermodel Kylie Bax in raptures.
“I just can’t explain the excitement and to share this experience is incredible.” – Kylie Bax
“When she got into the clear I knew she would get it,” she said. “I just can’t explain the excitement and to share this experience is incredible. It’s absolutely unbelievable.”
Bax bought Dandanzdance back for just NZ$5000 at Karaka in 2016 when she was offered by Blandford Lodge, the Matamata nursery owned by her parents Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax and Wellington businessman Lib Petagna.
Bax has previously said her inspired purchase of the multiple Hong Kong Group 1 winner Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock), who raced as Montaigne in Australia before his sale, also influenced her to secure the mare.
Beautiful presence
She believed Danzdanzdance had a similar presence about her to Beauty Generation, who will on Sunday defend his G1 Hong Kong Mile title at Sha Tin, and she sure made that was felt at Trentham.
After racing behind the leading pack, she was into the clear soon after straightening and she powered clear for a most impressive victory.
Trainer, Chris Gibbs (right)
“That was just amazing. She was outstanding and it’s wonderful to get it right after setting a plan in place, just wonderful,” Gibbs said.
“The genuine pace set it up beautifully and she’ll go to the Zabeel Classic next.” - Chris Gibbs
“The genuine pace set it up beautifully and she’ll go to the Zabeel Classic next. I’ll have a chat with Kylie after that and we’ll probably start planning for Sydney in the autumn.”
It will be a return trip for Danzdanzdance, who finished third in last season’s G1 New Zealand Derby, after running fifth earlier this year in the G1 Vinery Stud S. and sixth in the G1 Australian Oaks.
“To be honest, when she went she was on a downward curve, but they’re only three once and we rolled the dice and she still acquitted herself well,” Gibbs said.
Danzdanzdance opened her 4-year-old season with a soft win on her home track at Ruakaka and in her next appearance five weeks later she flew home late for third in the G1 Livamol Classic.
Danzdanzdance was ridden by top NZ jockey, Opie Bosson
She was then set for the Captain Cook and the stable’s bold move not to run her again played out perfectly.
“I knew she would be competitive at a mile, but the slow track did worry me.” - Chris Gibbs.
“The distance didn’t worry me at all. I knew she would be competitive at a mile, but the slow track did worry me,” Gibbs said.
It proved no dampener on the class of Danzdanzdance and she bolted up by four lengths from Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit {USA}), who was posting his third placing in the race, and Our Abbadean (NZ) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}) arrived late for third.
“She’s a very classy mare and it was a great training performance,” Bosson said. “Going in, I was a little bit sceptical being fresh-up over the mile.
“I got into the three wide train and she travelled well – she’s a very classy mare. I probably got there a bit too soon, but I didn’t realise the turn of foot she’s got. She’s going to improve stacks with that as well.”
