The transformation of Dances On Stars since being gelded has been remarkable, according to trainer Gerald Ryan.
Frustrated the three-year-old wasn’t showing his true potential, Ryan made the decision to geld Dances On Stars after he ran fifth in the Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben last December.
Dances On Stars - Photo by Steve Hart
“In the Vo Rogue he darted to front and when he put two lengths on them he looked like winning the race but he just pulled up,” Ryan said.
“When Brenton Avdulla jumped off him after the race he reckoned he didn’t try one bit.”
Ryan believes the improved attitude of Dances On Stars will be reflected in Saturday’s Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) for which he is an $8 chance.
“He’s a lot better horse to have around the place and it’s showing in his trackwork and when he trialled a fortnight ago,” he said.
Racing as a colt, Dances On Stars met Sizzling, the $3 Guineas favourite, five times and finished behind him on each occasion but Ryan believes track conditions played a role in those defeats.
“When he was up here last year he was having trouble with wet tracks all the time but he’ll have to be competitive in this race or else he comes back to Sydney,” he said.
“If he races as well as I’m hoping he will, then his main goal will be the Queensland Guineas or maybe a 1600-metre race for three-year-olds on Stradbroke day.”
Ryan also will be represented at the Gold Coast by Hot Snitzel, who will carry topweight of 59.5kg in the Prime Minister’s Cup (1200m).
“He’s at the top of his game and is going into this race with fresh legs,” he said.
The last time Hot Snitzel raced at the Gold Coast he won the Ken Russell Memorial Classic as a two-year-old by 6-1/2 lengths.
Ryan is likely to add Angel Of Mercy to his Brisbane winter carnival team if she performs well at her return to racing in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on May 18.
