By Mike Dillon
Barrier 11 is the first negative sign for class Australian sprinter Dantelah's one-race attack on Friday's $250,000 Railway Handicap.
But do not expect to find any more.
Dantelah might be half a length off the best Australian sprinters, but that is good enough to argue that on a good day
she can match the current bunch of local speedsters.
And Dantelah does not have many bad days.
She has a record of 19 starts for six wins, five seconds and five thirds and
with a comfortable weight can win New Zealand's premier sprint.
The 54.5kg is the key and you will probably look to the Damien Oliver factor to overcome the negative of the wide barrier draw.
Dantelah carried 56.5kg when an unlucky second to Techniques in a Listed 1100m sprint at Randwick at her last start on December 19. She drew wide that day and had to work extremely hard throughout.
Before that she was third under 56kg in the Hilton On The Park at Flemington and a week earlier finished fifth, only one and a half lengths off the winner Flavour in the group one Salinger Stakes on Derby day at Flemington.
Five of her six wins have been at 1200m and her fastest time, 1.9.18, was under 57.5kg.
Dantelah arrived in Auckland on Sunday and Shannon Perry, 25-year-old son of her Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, says the mare is going "enormously well."
"Having said that, it's all new to her," he said last night.
Perry said Damien Oliver will have a lot of autonomy in deciding the race plan.
"Damien will have something sorted out, he always a does. I'm looking forward to
hearing what he's got to say.
"I've been told the Ellerslie track is now well cambered and that if they are good enough they can win from outside barriers."
Oliver has not ridden Dantelah.
"But he knows plenty about her. He's competed against her often enough at the last two Melbourne spring carnivals."
Bawalaksana is in the Railway field after doubt yesterday morning he would make the final 14. It failed to become an issue when only 13 accepted.
The in-form sprinter has delighted trainer Paul O'Sullivan.
"He worked up nicely this morning. We don't do an awful lot with him because he goes well fresh."
Bawalaksana will be ridden by Jezabeel's Sydney-based Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Chris Munce.
"I hope he rides 1200m as well as he rides 3200m," O'Sullivan said.
Fields for the two feature races at Ellerslie on Friday:
7 MCDONOGH RAILWAY HANDICAP 4.05
Of $250,000, opn hcp, no allowances, 1200m
1- 0X11 Trans Siberia d (10) 56
2- 3533 Dantelah d (11) 54.5
3- 0331 Buster Brookfield dm (6) 54
4- 10X4 Kincaple Lad dm (2) 53.5
5- 4222 Crooked Stick tcd (12) 52
6- 1111 Fritz d (8) 52
7- 0X15 Bareall tcb (9) 51.5
8- 7283 Samboa tcd (1) 51.5
9- 2140 Shinnecock Hills tcd (4) 51.5
10- 1621 With Drawn tcdm (3) 51.5
11- X111 Bawalaksana tcd (5) 50.5
12- 4151 Scutarius tdm (7) 50.5
13- 1912 Vain Ana tcd (13) 50.5
9 BLUE STAR AUCKLAND CUP 5.30
Of $350,000, opn hcp, no allowances, 3200m
1- 7190 Cheviot (19) 56
2- 1110 Dannevegas (1) 55
3- 1495 Manchu Warrior tm (9) 55
4- 1768 Crimson tb (2) 53.5
5- 4270 Denholm tm (12) 53.5
6- 3702 Havitbak tm (6) 53.5
7- 5461 Emerald (14) 53
8- 2122 Mulqueen m (16) 53
9- 2121 Scud m (3) 53
10- 5120 Chase Alida tm (7) 52.5
11- 0362 Madjic m (8) 52.5
12- 1733 The Message t (11) 52.5
13- 0595 Jimineate t (10) 52
14- 8703 All American (21) 51.5
15- 9481 Centroview tm (4) 51.5
16- 0712 Irish Chance tb (13) 51.5
17- 0000 North Lady t (22) 51.5
18- 7144 Shans Beau (5) 51.5
19- 0337 Mi Galleon tm (17) 51
20- 1056 Guardian Angel (20) 51
21- 2040 The Chimney Sweep (18) 51
22- 1667 Smiling Like t (15) 51
Emergencies: Mi Galleon, Guardian Angel, The Chimney Sweep, Smiling Like.
Horse Racing: Dantelah a threat in spite of draw
By Mike Dillon
Barrier 11 is the first negative sign for class Australian sprinter Dantelah's one-race attack on Friday's $250,000 Railway Handicap.
But do not expect to find any more.
Dantelah might be half a length off the best Australian sprinters, but that is good enough to argue that on a good day
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