Danish Twist is out to press her G1 claims in the Tristarc Stakes
After a busy autumn and winter campaign for Danish Twist, trainer Kris Lees wondered how well the stakes winning mare would bounce back this spring.
But Danish Twist answered that with a strong first-up third in the Group Two Premiere Stakes at Randwick in a three-way photo finish with Takedown and Our Boy Malachi.
The mare has since headed to Melbourne and will be out to press her claims for a Group One Myer Classic start when she chases her biggest win in Saturday’s Group Two Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield.
“She’s settled in well and had a nice look around the course proper on Tuesday,” Lees said.
“She appeared to handle it OK.
“She’s never stopped surprising us actually, all the way through. You’re always concerned when they’ve had a long prep like she did last time how she’ll bounce back, but we gave her a month up in Queensland after the Tatt’s Tiara and she really thrived.”
Danish Twist raced eight times during the autumn and winter, winning the lucrative Provincial Championship Final at Randwick in April before adding the Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury, the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone and the June Stakes at Randwick.
She was spelled after an unplaced run in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara in Brisbane.
Lees said the widest barrier in Saturday’s race for mares means Danish Twist will have to be ridden quietly.
“She’s only going to have a light spring but the Myer Classic is an option two weeks later, ” Lees said.
“The draw just means she has to be ridden conservatively in the early stages. She’s one you can’t bustle anyway.
“She’ll be ridden back so she will be relying on some tempo in the race but they can usually swoop.
“If she gets the right tempo she’ll be strong late and she’ll be right in the race.”
Danish Twist is on the second line of betting at $4.40 behind in-form Tycoon Tara who’ll be chasing her fourth stakes win from five starts this campaign.
