Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE appropriately named DANCE WITH THE CAT turned in a smashing performance at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the Eight Thirty Sprint for native bred maiden three-year-old fillies, this over the straight five course.
Going off at odds of 6-1 with three-time champion Charles Hussey aboard, the daughter of Al's River Cat - Dance Parade won by four lengths from 3-5 favourite CHOCOLATE SLEW, but the margin could easily have been doubled had Hussey not eased his mount over the last 100 metres.
Despite this, DANCE WITH THE CAT covered the distance in the smart time of 58.4. She was smartly away from the number nine post position and raced prominently in mid-track as highly fancied POLISH STAR (2-1) led on the far side with CHOCOLATE SLEW also bang in contention.
As they came out of the chute and galloped on to the main track, POLISH STAR soon came under pressure from the pair of DANCE WITH THE CAT and CHOCOLATE SLEW in the middle. Then the issue was decided in a matter of strides.
Running like a well-oiled machine, DANCE WITH THE CAT disposed of them approaching the distance and after pulling clear in a flash, Hussey tightened his hold on the filly, leaving CHOCOLATE SLEW and POLISH STAR to fight it out for second in the field of 15.
The 99-1 outsider QUEEN LITTLE SHOES slipped up in the starting gate and was declared a late non-starter, reducing the field to 15.
DANCE WITH THE CAT is owned by Main Event and trained by Anthony "Baba" Nunes.
For Hussey the current 3-y-o campaign is providing him with an embarrassment of riches. In addition to DANCE WITH THE CAT, he has rides aboard the top-rated classic contender MILLIMETRE not to mention other potential classic aspirants RUN BUZZ RUN and FABRIKATOR, both trained by his brother Percy.
Leading trainer Richard Todd continued his relentless assault this season with three winners in 1-5 favourite THE REAL MEDIC in the fourth race, 4-5 favourite LIGHTENING BOLT in the fifth and ZIRCON at 5-2 in the 10th race (overnight allowance) over the circular nine course.
One of two winners for leading jockey Wesley Henry, ZIRCON raced prominently in third as ZEEDON and 7-5 favourite VOLCANE had a battle royal for the lead. ZIRCON got the inside run entering the straight and quickly disposed of the leaders. But in the end the six-year-old gelding had to be shaken up to thwart a terrific stretch run from 5-1 chance SIR MOHANDAS BABA, winning by a neck.
Trainer Ryan Darby saddled two winners in HYDE PARK (2-1) and super fit GIMME A DOLLAR (9-5) who posted a quick double, having won the Colin Melhado Memorial Cup feature at 9-1 last Wednesday.
