Star Kiwi Performance in QLD

Smart NZ sprinter Dances on Stars (NZ) (Snitzel) produced his trademark fast finish to land the Listed A$176,400 Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Dances on Stars (NZ) successful in the Listed Carlton Draught Prime Minister’s Cup.

A NZ$95,000 Karaka Premier Sale graduate, Dances on Stars is renowned for getting back in the field and coming with a strong late burst as he displayed on New Year’s Day when he won the Listed Carrington Stakes, the second stakes win of his career for trainer Gerald Ryan.

The son of Ryan’s former Group 1 winning sprinter Snitzel settled well back in the 13-horse field for jockey Michael Cahill. Cahill produced the gelding wide in the straight and unleashed a withering sprint to claim victory by a length over Final Crescendo (Foreplay) and race-favourite Benny’s Buttons (Refuse to Bend).

“It was a good strong win,” commented Ryan. “He likes to be kept fresh and he had four weeks between runs. He hit the line good, he is a good honest horse who has won over half a million dollars now and is just off being the top.

“He has raced well in good company for three years now. He went to Queensland as a two-year-old and was placed in three races without winning. Then he went back up as a three-year-old and ran second in the Gold Coast Guineas and now has gone back up as a four-year-old and won a stakes race.

“He will probably go onto the BRC sprint which is 1350m in a fortnight, then to the QTC Cup which is a fortnight later.”

Saturday’s win was the fourth victory from 23 starts for the four-year-old gelding, and third at stakes level. He was the winner of the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes as a two-year-old and has earned A$507,150 in prizemoney for his owners Mr B P Mullins, Ms D R Keegan, Mr P R Glenister & Mrs P A Glenister.

Bred by Hong Kong Breeders Club Ltd, Dances on Stars is out of Last Tycoon mare Starnet, a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Miss Margret (Marscay). Dances on Stars is a half-brother to Group 1 Queensland Derby runner-up Volcanic Star (Fuji Kiseki).

Dynamic Syndications purchased Dances on Stars for NZ$95,000 at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale from Highview.