Shane Nichols says he is unlikely to try Tahitian Dancer over 1600 metres again, preferring instead to keep the stakes-placed filly to shorter distances.
And with that, Tahitian Dancer has been freshened since an unplaced run at Flemington just over a month ago and drops back in distance for a crack at the Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds at the same track on Saturday.
“She just went too hard in the mile race at Flemington last start so we’ve given her a bit of a freshen-up,” Nichols said.
“She had a little bit of time in the paddock and a bit of time on the water walker and she has sharpened up really well.
“It’s a strong race on Saturday but she will enjoy the ground and she has drawn well.
“We probably won’t step her out to the mile again. We’ll keep her to those six and seven furlong trips and we’ll decide after this run whether we give her one more run this preparation or freshen her up for the early part of the spring.”
Tahitian Dancer finished fourth in the Group Two Queen Of The South Stakes over 1600m in Adelaide two starts ago despite Nichols believing the filly went too fast in front that day.
Her two wins in her 11 starts have both been over 1200m, at The Valley as a two-year-old and at Mornington in a benchmark race for fillies and mares earlier this campaign.
“They were in inferior grade to this but it’s not beyond the possibilities that she’s good enough to be placed in a stakes race like this on Saturday,” Nichols said.
The Creswick Stakes headlines Saturday’s Flemington program and features a field of 11.
Tahitian Dancer is an $18 chance in an early market with in-form filly Bam’s On Fire the favourite at $3.40 having won three races on the trot so far this preparation.
Adelaide sprinter Gytrash and the Robbie Griffiths-trained Halvorsen are set for a rematch having finished first and second respectively in a 1000m race at Flemington last Saturday week.
Gytrash was the $4.60 second favourite on Wednesday just ahead of Halvorsen at $5, while last-start Swan Hill winner Golden Halo was at $6.50.
