Co-trainer Lee Freedman is hoping the stableâs promising young filly Dancing Hare can develop into a genuine Oaks hope in 2017 when she reaches full maturity.
Trainer Lee Freedman (left) is keen to stretch filly Dancing Hare up to an Oaks distance during the autumn. Photo: Taron Clarke.
The $400,000 purchase from last yearâs Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales has raced just once so far when winning her debut over 1400m at Bendigo against the older mares on November 24.
Originally Freedman was hoping to run her at Sandown, but a venue change for Wednesdayâs meeting has her lining-up second-up at Mornington in the $40,000 Splashland.com.au Handicap (1600m).
Drawn in gate eight of nine she drops from 59.5kg with the apprentice claim of Jordon Childs (1.5) who takes over for Craig Williams in the saddle, but Freedman has some concerns about the circuit and the barrier.
“Initially this meeting was set down for Sandown and I thought that type of circuit would suit her better than Mornington, which can be sometimes tricky for horses that get back in the field,” Freedman told Racing Victoria on Wednesday morning.
“And then on top of that we have drawn barrier eight which is likely to mean we will ride her back in the early stages.
“If she had drawn a barrier I would have been interested to see if she can take up a position closer to the lead up in distance but that may be tricky today.”
In the latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au Dancing Hare is at $4.60 to remain undefeated and continue to live-up to her outstanding pedigree.
Sheâs a daughter of gun sire Fastnet Rock and is the first progeny of her Irish dam Global Dance, aa sister of Irish Oaks winner Moonstone and fellow Group 1 winner Cerulean Sky, to race down under.
Her breeding suggests the further she goes the better sheâll run and Freedman hopes that will eventuate into an Oaks campaign next year.
“She has been quite a slow-maturing filly and always given us the indication we wouldn’t start to see her full potential until the autumn of her three-year-old preparation,” he said.
Options are open and include the $1 million Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 8, the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in May and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
“I’d like to think she is an Oaks filly, there can be quite a variance between Sydney, Adelaide or Brisbane but Lee Curtis’ filly [Lasqueti Spirit, who won the Crown Oaks this year] showed how quickly they can emerge,â Freedman said.
“I think when we get her up over 2000m and beyond she will really come in to her own.”
Freedman won the ATC Oaks in 2006 with Serenade Rose, the 1999 Queensland Oaks with Miss Danehill and in the past 30 years has prepared four Australasian Oaks winners in Adelaide most recently Grand Echezeaux in 2000.
To back Dancing Hare in her mid-week run and to access the upcoming Group 1 racing futures for the autumn head to Ladbrokes.com.au now â home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).