Mystery Horse Salutes

It was great to see Savvy Dancer break through for his first Australian victory at Morphettville on Saturday, the six-year-old having always displayed plenty of natural ability.

A Listed winner in New Zealand last spring, the son of Savabeel had been disappointing since heading to Melbourne – always working well but not putting it together on race day.

“He has been a real mystery to us,” Michael Moroney admitted – “usually horses with his sort of form in New Zealand come over and prove competitive at Saturday level at the very least.”

“We thought he was Group class but he just hadn’t been showing it on race day – although at the moment he is going better than he ever has, he is really thriving.”

Fortunately everything went right last Saturday, Savvy Dancer always travelling nicely for Adrian Patterson and staying out the 2500m trip in strong fashion.

Proving ¾ length too strong for the handy The Big Steel, Savvy Dancer recorded the fifth win of his 33 start career – much to the relief of his owners Ballymore Stables, Garry Christini and David Trubshoe.

A NZ$70,000 purchase for Paul Moroney Bloodstock at the 2009 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, Savvy Dancer – who will again head to Morphettville for his next start – is out of the three times winning Dance Floor mare Energetic Dancer.

A half-sister to the Listed winner Canned Heat, Energetic Dancer hails from the family of the American big race winners Bet Twice and Golden Treat.

Ballymore has been in great form of late and we hope that continues at Bendigo on Wednesday where we are looking forward to saddling up five nice horses.

Kicking off our busy day is Glove Man who contests the opening event of the day, a 1400m maiden.

To be ridden by Nicholas Hall, the lightly raced and promising four-year-old is having his first run since a Seymour second in late April.

“He is a really nice staying horse in the making,” Moroney said, adding that the son of Keeper has matured since his last campaign.

“He is a stronger horse now and he has developed into quite a nice horse – so he might run well first up.”

Also resuming is Air Striker who lines up in the Bluescope Handicap over 1100m.

To be ridden by Glen Boss, the Pentire gelding is well regarded by the stable – “we think he is probably up to stakes class,” Moroney reported, adding that whilst he hopes the young horse “can go through his classes” over the spring, the autumn is when we are likely to see the best of him.

He has however been shaping nicely this time in and Moroney is hopeful of a bold showing – “it may prove a bit short for him but his class can carry him a long way.”

La Zuma ran soundly first up at Sandown and she strips fitter for her second up assignment, the Communications F&M Showcase.

Nicely drawn in barrier two for Damien Oliver, she will wear blinkers for the first time – Moroney noting that the Zabeel breed tend to improve in them.

“She is a mare who we don’t think we have quite figured out yet,” Moroney said, “but she has always shown glimpses of real ability and being a Zabeel she should get getter as she gets older.”

Hopefully we will be cheering on two runners in the final event, the Seniors Raceday Showcase – with the smart Flashy Fella resuming whilst About Square needs a bit of luck as second emergency to sneak a run.

Having his first outing since early February, Flashy Fella has drawn awkwardly out in barrier 15 for Jamie Mott.

“He comes off a disappointing campaign last time in but he has had a nice break and he is going well – and he does usually run a good race first up.”

About Square did not have much luck at Sandown last time out but he was in strong winning form at Flemington before that.

Barrier 16 is not ideal but the talented four-year-old has the services of Glen Boss who admitted that he did not quite get his ride right last time out.

“He got off and said not to worry, that he rode him a bit wrongly.”

“He has been up a long time,” he continued, “but you would not know it looking at him – he is going well and he is a pretty smart horse.”

On Thursday we take Muirfield bush to contest the $175,000 Group Three Newcastle Cup – and all he needs, Moroney says, is a wet track.

“We are just hoping for rain, with the right surface he could turn his form right around.”