Racing: Classy Danzdanzdance waltzes in

Danzdanzdance and Opie Bosson are well clear as they charge to a second successive group one victory in the $200,000 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie yesterday. Photo / Trish Dunell

Trainer Chris Gibbs has some bad news for his rival trainers after Danzdanzdance's demolition job in the $200,000 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie yesterday.

And he is hoping to deliver that same bad news to the trainers of Sydney's best milers in April.

Gibbs and training partner Michelle Bradley produced their brilliant mare for her second group one win of the month when she came from last to jog past a seriously high-class field.

That means half of her four career wins have come at the highest level, all less than a year after she left maidens. With Livamol Classic winner Savvy Coup having transferred to Australia, Danzdanzdance must rate as our best weight-for-age middle distance galloper, especially as Te Akau Shark will be kept to handicap racing for much of the rest of the season.

Gibbs and Bradley say Danzdanzdance is almost certain to stick around in NZ for the Herbie Dyke at Te Rapa in February, now our richest weight-for-age race. Which can't be very encouraging news for the trainers of her rivals yesterday because, considering she looks as potent on wet or dry tracks, it is very hard to make a case for any of them turning the tables on her at Te Rapa.

Gibbs says one more local group one victory has to be the target before Danzdanzdance is set for Australia, but not the race many would think.

"The Herbie Dyke is the next aim and she will go there without a lead-up race," said Gibbs.

"It has to be the target because it is our richest weight-for-age race and then we can freshen her up for the Doncaster."

That means the racey grey won't have the new A$5 million All Stars Mile at Flemington on March 16 on her radar, as tempting as that might be.

"If all goes well in the Herbie Dyke then I think she can get into the Doncaster with a light enough weight to be a chance.

"And unlike last year when we took her there [Sydney, for the Oaks] at the end of a campaign, we can target that race for her nice and fresh, which is how she races best."

That could potentially set up a Kiwi dream team for the Doncaster in Danzdanzdance and Te Akau Shark, who is back in work after his stunning Couplands Mile win in November.
For Gibbs and Bradley, Danzdanzdance is the flagship horse their new stable needed after they joined forces when former stable boss Donna Logan moved to Singapore.

While they already sit sixth on the trainer's premiership they now have a horse to keep them in the headlines, always handy a month out from the yearling sales, an arena where Danzdanzdance cost a scarcely believable $5000.

"She has been magic for us," admits Gibbs. "I was lucky enough to be training with Donna when we had Volkstock'n'Barrell and he did some pretty awesome things but to have this mare come along at this stage of our training partnership is huge for Michelle and I.

"And we think she can keep getting better. That is why it would be so exciting to get her to Sydney at her best." The first half of yesterday's 2000m classic wasn't exactly easy watching for the punters who took the very short odds for Danzdanzdance as she tailed the field a clear last until the 800m before she strode forward and forced Lizzie L'Amour to also move on the home bend.

It was clear at the top of the straight the two favourites had the race to themselves yet as brave as the runner-up was Danzdanzdance has younger, faster legs and a few less miles on the clock.

"I can't complain about how my mare went, she has just run second in another group one," said Lizzie L'Amour's jockey Matt Cameron.

"But the other horse is just where Lizzie was at two years ago, the young fresh horse on the scene."

Dancing queen

• Danzdanzdance came from last to bolt away with the $200,000 Zabeel Classic.

• She will now head to Te Rapa in mid-February before a likely tilt at the Doncaster in Sydney.

• The grey flash is the flagship horse for new training partners Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley.