On Track - Spring 2019

9 As his trainer, David Menuisier pointed out the Ladbrokes Cox Plate has been a long-term target since he was bought to run in the blue, black and white colours of Australian Bloodstock. Australian Bloodstock bought a majority stake in Danceteria after his first-up victory in the Listed Prix Jacques Laffitte (1800m) at Maisons-Laffitte on April 10, a testament to the patience Menuisier has shown with the son of Redoute’s Choice, who became the Australian super sire’s first Group 1 winner in Europe when he scored in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis - Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (2000m) at Munich on soft ground in late July. “We always felt he was a really good horse, but (when he was younger) we just felt he didn’t have the strength to do himself justice,’’ he said about the gelding, who has won seven times in his 14 starts. But it is perhaps his fifth, beaten five and a quarter- lengths, behind the champion Enable which gave his connections confidence that he might be competitive in a W.S. Cox Plate. That day he wasn’t far off the mare many people now believe is the best horse in the world. Menuisier also says having an experienced jockey like Spencer (a former British champion who was also the number one for Aidan O’Brien’s Coolmore operation earlier in his career) also makes things easier. “He absolutely loves the horse... it gives you a lot of confidence. You don’t need to sit for hours making plans, you can keep it simple.” All roads now lead to the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate on October 26 at The Valley and the one thing that is certain is that a new winner will be crowned. The dawn of a new era awaits. Mystic Journey returns after winning the 2018 Fillies Classic at The Valley Danceteria has form around Enable and will be race fit