Speedy filly Dance Session made the best possible start after a stable change when she led from start to finish and won the Rhonda Worthington Handicap (1000m) at Belmont on Wednesday by a half-length.
Dance Session made her first appearance for Mitchell Pateman following a short tenure under Jim Taylor and repaid owners immediately after being bought for a modest $13,500 in an online auction sale.
A dashing frontrunning ride from leading apprentice, Holly Watson, paved the way for Dance Session’s victory and despite tiring over the concluding stages the Sessions daughter travelled comfortably.
Ruby’s Moon, who tracked the leader, tried hard to bridge the gap on Dance Session and ran second, a length and half ahead of third place getter Hot Blooded. Favourite Karalee Rocks finished a distant fourth.
In his stable for about a month, Pateman says he is still getting a handle on Dance Session but does appreciate that the three-year-old holds an abundance of speed.
“A hard horse to get a gauge on to be honest,” Pateman said.
“She can be erratic at times and we elected to make a few gear changes.
“She is very quick and I’ve never seen a horse in my career who has led in every single trial and race.
“We just had to get her to run out the 1000m and she did that.”
Dance Session extended her record to two wins and three placings from 10 career starts.
Going forward, Pateman admits he and Dance Session’s group of owners now have to lift their expectations.
“The owners have been telling me for 12-months all they ever wanted was a horse for Kojonup,” Pateman said.
“I said this is your horse for Kojonup, it’ll win as far as you can hit a cricket ball.
“She might have held off going to Kojonup for a while.”
Dance Session lifted Watson’s season tally to 22 wins. She shares second position with Keshaw Dhurun as leading apprentice.
The talented junior rider said she enjoyed her association with Dance Session.
“I haven’t sat on her once, that’s my first ride on her,” Watson said.
“She’s one of those horses that you have to roll a little bit, don’t fight her, get a gap and let them catch her.”
