Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred colt Christopher Dance demonstrated his wonderful ability and excellent staying powers with an outstanding victory in the $50,000 Western Gateway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, an effort which ensured he will be a warm favourite for the $200,000 WA Derby next Friday week.
Part-owned by Team Bond and prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, Christopher Dance is at the forefront of a powerful Derby assault by Bond-trained three-year-olds.
The Bonds dominated the Western Gateway, with Christopher Dance, the $1.70 favourite, beating stablemate Vegas Strip ($15) by a head, while other stablemates figured prominently, with Golden Lode ($7) finishing fourth and Tualou ($9.50) in fifth place after being badly blocked for a clear run in the closing stages.
Star driver Deni Roberts left nothing to chance as she demonstrated her confidence in Christopher Dance by getting him away speedily from the No. 6 barrier and forging forward, three wide for 300m before challenging $9 chance Menemsha for the lead, an unsuccessful move which resulted in the favourite working hard in the breeze.
The opening quarters of the final mile were run in 29.5sec. and 29.4sec. before the final 400m sections were covered in 28sec. and 28.8sec.
Christopher Dance took a narrow lead 350m from home and went to the line strongly to defy the opposition, rating 1.56.5 over the Derby journey of 2536m.
The impressive victory followed the colt’s successful Australian debut ten nights earlier when he scored an easy win in moderate company.
“He was sharper tonight,” said Roberts. “We put the hood on and changed a few little things, and he felt like the horse that we thought we had got. This was pretty promising leading into the Derby, and he will get better from that run, and he should be cherry ripe for the Derby.”
Greg Bond was delighted with the runs of the stable’s three-year-olds, saying: “Christopher Dance did all the bullocking. He toughed it out and ran good time. Vegas Strip put in a great effort and showed that he is up to Derby class, too.
“Vegas Strip (the winner of the Golden Slipper last September) lost a bit of form about a month and a half ago, and we decided we had been too kind with him, and then stepped him up. Since then, he has showed the form we know he can produce.”
While the Bond runners stole the limelight on Friday night, Menemsha ran a good Derby trial, setting a solid pace and fighting on determinedly to be third, a half-length behind the winner.
“Menemsha is starting to get his confidence back after suffering from an atrial fibrillation (when a distant last behind Water Lou four starts earlier, on August 16),” said De Campo.