Trainer Kris Lees is confident that Danish Twist will have no issue handling the Melbourne way of going for the first time when she lines up for the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Danish Twist will attempt the Victorian way of going for the first time competitively in Saturday’s Tristarc Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart
Danish Twist has produced a number of impressive efforts amongst both open and fillies and mares’ company this year, and the five-year-old will carry plenty of improvement into the Tristarc Stakes after running third amongst classy company in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago.
Lees confirmed that the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) on Derby Day remains the target for the daughter of Dane Shadow and is hopeful that there is a good tempo in the Tristarc Stakes from the outset.
“She’s settled in well and had a nice look around the course proper on Tuesday,” Lees told AAP.
“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.
“She’s only going to have a light spring but the Myer Classic is an option two weeks later.
“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 was kept to provincial racing through her first three starts in 2016, but returned to winning form in the Provincial Championship Final (1400m) at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.
Repeating the effort in the Toyota Ladies Day Cup (1300m), Danish Twist posted impressive wins in both the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) and Listed June Stakes (1100m), but had clearly had enough by the time she finished eighth in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).
Danish Twist is currently available at 2016 Tristarc Stakes odds of $4.50 with Ladbrokes Australia.
