Wagga, Taree previews: Southern Dancer eyes redemption
Southern Dancer may only have one win to her name but trainer Gary Colvin is adamant her record should read much better.
The three-year-old claimed a maiden win over 1175m at just her second start and has been placed in five of her next 11 starts.
The latest of those placings was over 2050m at Wodonga 12 days ago when third to First Day when luck wasn't her friend.
'Southern Dancer is probably one of the unluckiest horses I've ever had,' said Colvin.
'She has had a lot of bad draws and no luck in a number of races.
'We went to Wodonga last start and she just got held up at a vital stage.
'With a 200m straight, it was too late when she got out but she hit the line full of running.
'Hopefully all the bad luck is behind her now.'
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The daughter of I Am Immortal steps out in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (2000m) which is a Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series with Blaike McDougall to again ride.
'Blaike rode her at Canberra a couple of starts back and said she will get over 2400m metres,' Colvin said.
'I'll just stick to the 2000 metres for now but I really like her.
'Back to a big track, I'm confident she will run really well.'
In the same race, he also saddles up Kerma Art who is having his first go at the 2000m.
'He won a couple of races and is usually not too far away,' he said.
'He has been running up to a mile but he's a bit of a one-pacer so I thought I would try him over the 2000 metres and see what happens.
'He's no star but he should be thereabouts.
Lightly-raced four-year-old Deflector has been very good in placing at her two runs this preparation and is a leading contender in the Maiden Plate (1300m).
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai resumed with a third to Master Patrick in a Wagga Super Maiden over 1000m where she was held up early in the straight.
She then finished a nose second to Sundrop over 1200m at Corowa 18 days later.
'She is coming along quite nicely and I expect her to go very well,' Colvin said.
'She is a typical Pride Of Dubai, taking a bit of time to mature but she is starting to it her straps now. She is getting better with every run.
'You like to see them continuing to come on and that is what she is doing.'
Another maiden who is closing in on his first win is Doc March who contests the Maiden Plate (1600m).
The son of Prized Icon was runner-up in consecutive starts at Wagga before a fourth to Chilly Charlie at Canberra on May 9.
'He just got back and could make up the ground to win in a couple of races here at Wagga,' Colvin said.
'I knew he wanted a bit of ground but he is on his way and going pretty well.
'He has had about a month since his last run but he is ticking over very well.'
Joining him in this race is Astern Torch who is coming off a third to Track And Field on the Wagga Riverside 12 days ago.
'He has been a very frustrating horse. He showed me ability early on but is a bit of a one-pacer,' he said
'He keeps doing enough to convince me to persevere with him.'
Meanwhile, Colvin said he is pleased with stable star Another One who resumes from a long spell at Randwick on Saturday.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Trainer Lyndall Olson is hoping home track advantage can offset her queries as Gold Card and Zaru strive for success in one of the day's features.
Gold Card and Zaru line up in the Corey Brown Cup at Taree just two weeks after the track was flooded.
The heavy ground is just one query Olson has for the pair who appreciate soft tracks at this stage of their careers.
'As they have gotten older, they have shown they prefer soft tracks rather than the heavy,' Olson said.
Gold Card kicked off his latest campaign with a win in the Hannam Cup over 1007m at Taree on March 17 before a five week gap into his next start when a three length seventh to Cassiel at Canterbury.
He steps up to 1250m in the Benchmark 82 race where he is a perfect four from four over the track and distance.
'It was a nice win over the 1000 metres then we went to Canterbury and he wasn't disgraced at all,' said Olson.
'I'm just a bit worried about the time he has had between runs.
'It's been just over six weeks between since his last race. Whether he needs the run or not.
'We have taken the three kilos off with Leanne Boyd aboard but he well and I expect him to run a nice race.'
Zaru finished down the track when resuming under 61kg at Taree on May 13 but Olson isn't reading too much into that performance.
'It was hard to make ground from back in the field with his weight and also the 1000 metres was too short for him,' she said.
'We just had to find a race for him to kick off in.
'As he has gotten older, he is a become wiser and he doesn't like the heavy going any more.
'We've got Aaron Bullock back on and he does seem to have a way with him.
'Like Gold Card, he loves his home track.'
Olson has no qualms about the track rating for Gold Melody after she scored a stylish win over 1250m on a Heavy 10 at home on May 13.
The four-year-old is a strong chance again in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m).
'She did really well to win last start. It was a nice ride from Anna (Roper),' she said.
'She has trained on really well and I think she is a good chance again from barrier one.'
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