Dance Music Earns A Shot At Railway Stakes
Dance Music will be given a Group 1 opportunity after posting an easy victory in the Listed Iron Jack Northam Cup (1600m) on Sunday.
The Simon Miller-trained mare, given a gun rails hugging ride from Brad Parnham and starting at $8.90, scored by 2 ¾ lengths from Flow with another short-neck to Kalgoorlie Cup winner, Missile Launch.
Miller’s decision to race Dance Music in the Northam Cup and test her over the mile paid off handsomely after she bounced back from her 10th placing to Taxagano in the Group 3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) last week.
Claiming her second Listed success after the Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) two years back, Dance Music improved her record to nine wins and six placings from 19 starts with over half a million dollars in prizemoney and bonuses.
After backing up stylishly and passing a distance test, Miller believes Dance Music now deserves a chance of tackling the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 21.
“I was mindful she had a real hard run the other day and I was watching her closely during the week,” Miller said.
“But she was bright and we had no qualms as the week progressed that she was ready to go.
“She won with 59kg over 1500 at Ascot one day, so I was always tempted to go to the mile.
“As she has got older she has transitioned from sprinting and this is the race I targeted, because I wanted to figure whether to head to the Railway or not.
“It’s the logical path for her now, so she can head that way. Conditions wise it maps out perfectly for her.”
$2.10 favourite Massimo couldn’t handle the quick turnaround from the Northerly Stakes and faded to finish last.
A stable representative indicated the Sessions gelding, who has been racing since April, would now be sent for a spell.
Stable mate Money Matters ran second-last after being in second position to the turn.
Dance Music gave Miller a running double after American Choice defeated stable mate Nuhad in the Tabtouch Handicap (1300m).
Julio Santarelli