The seven-year-old mare is preparing for her final weekend of racing before retiring to stud, in foal to Downbytheseaside. She is the third expectant mother from the Dunns’ Diamond Racing team to finish racing this month, following Follow Your Dream and I Dream Of Jeannie.
Dance Till Dawn has had a stellar career for Team Dunn, having won 12 of her 88 starts and earning more than $300,000 in stakes.
“She did a fantastic job and kept her shape for a very long time,” said driver John Dunn.
“But this is her last weekend and she will win twice if she wins.”
Dance Till Dawn is a newcomer to the circuit and is looking to continue the Dunn’s dominance of the feature pacing races after It’s Tough won them both days in Nelson last weekend.
“He has gone to the paddock, so our next decision with him is whether we give him a longer period or a shorter period and put him for the Country Cups Final.”
With Its Tough out of the way, it will be easier for Dance Till Dawn to overcome her 20m handicap today, but Dunn says it could still be a big ask.
“If they have such a handicap, it often depends on how the race is run.
“Clearly she is good enough to win after a good second of Motukarara’s last start in a stronger field, but if they step from the front and run away, whoever I control Bryce’s Meddle will also be difficult to catch.”
“He had two good races at Westport and had three wins on the grass.”
As is often the case with our grass court cups, or in today’s case the Cup Prelude (6.20pm), the field is flat and because the grass courts are so flat it can be difficult to get wide.
Earlier in the meeting, John Dunn said that two trotters from the stable could win, although one of them would be extremely difficult to predict.
“We have Rock Lobster (R5, No. 15) in the 10m and she has had good races, so she should have a good chance either way.
“And we have Tyron’s Strapping Lad in Race 8 and he would win in his best form, but he is a very difficult horse to follow.
“He won so well in the last start and has a lot of ability, but sometimes his concentration wanders.
“He can grow out of that and string together a few wins, but right now he still has that mental immaturity.”
Click to view today’s Marlborough fields here
Through Michael Guerinfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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