Trainer Peter Moody headed to Sandown confident Shuffle Dancer would break her maiden status.
But that confidence was tempered a little when he saw the Ben and Jd Hayes-trained Rackermann as a short-priced favourite for the Ladbroke It! Plate (1400m) on Wednesday.
It mattered little as Shuffle Dancer registered a commanding win resulting from a devastating turn of foot soon after turning for home.
Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, Shuffle Dancer ($7) raced to a three-length win from the $2 favourite Rackermann with Cortes ($15) a length away third.
“I came here thinking she would just win, but the short quote on the favourite had me thinking a bit,” Moody said.
“Anyway, she’s done a good job and won well.
“Happy days.”
Shuffle Dancer was having her third start on Wednesday.
The three-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was beaten on a heavy track at Mornington on debut and immediately turned out for a spell.
Shuffle Dancer returned to racing on a good track at Bendigo last month, finishing third after incurring a wide run throughout.
“She drew wide and got caught wide, but she got a sweeter run today,” Moody said.
“She’s a nice big, scopey filly that has taken the right step forward, so we’re quite happy.
“The Vinnie’s, they need firm ground to show their best. She didn’t handle the wet at debut but her two runs this time have been pleasing.
“She should get through the grades nicely and get to Saturday company at this time of year on good ground.”
Stackhouse, who followed up by guiding Black Zous to win the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap, said he was more positive on Shuffle Dancer than what he was at Bendigo.
“I thought she peaked on her run the other day, but I was able to ride her a bit more positive today and she got into a good rhythm,” Stackhouse said.
“When the pace came out of the race, she wanted to keep striding, so I had to make a move a bit earlier than I wanted to, but she was going too well, and I wanted to keep her big stride going.”
