Kiwi Group One Winner for Mastercraftsman
Lightly raced mare Danzdanzdance (4m Mastercraftsman x Night Danza, by Danzero) made light-work of her rivals in Saturday’s Group I Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and could be New Zealand Racing’s next weight-for-age star.
The Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained mare was patiently ridden by Opie Bosson, who watched-on as many of his rivals jostled for prominent early positions, before unleashing a powerful winning burst centre-track to score by four-lengths from warhorse Authentic Paddy.
Danzdanzdance, who is raced by a group of owners headed by international supermodel turned breeder and syndicator Kylie Bax, showed the benefit of a freshen-up after a luckless third placing in the Group I Livamol Classic (2040m) in early October.
“She was outstanding,” Chris Gibbs said. “You’re always wondering if you’ve got them right and she was a bit above herself today, which scared me a little bit, but Opie rode her beautifully. There was a tonne of pace that just set it up beautifully for her.”
The daughter of Mastercraftsman is now likely to press on to the Group I Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day before a campaign across the Tasman is considered.
“We will probably have to start planning something for Sydney as a fresh campaign,” Gibbs said. “The way she goes fresh, we probably have to look at that but that is something that Kylie and ourselves will talk about.”
For winning part-owner Kylie Bax, it was the perfect result for her syndication business in addition to a success her family could savour.
“I’m still shaking,” an excited Bax said. “I cannot explain the excitement. We shouted-down the roof of the grandstand. It’s lucky to still be standing.
“It is wonderful to have such a great group of owners, including some people involved who have never had much to do with horses. Sharing the experience is incredible. "
She was bred by Mum and Dad and I bought her back at the Select Yearling Sale for $5,000."
Danzdanzdance has won three of 10 starts and is the best of two winners from Night Danza, who comes from the family of triple Group I winner Lucia Valentina.
She is the 11th Group I winner worldwide for Mastercraftsman.