Lees hoping for better luck for Danish Twist in Coolmore Classic

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is willing to forget Danish Twist’s last start unplaced run and is hoping for better luck when she lines up in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Kris Lees is hoping for better luck for Danish Twist, above, in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Trainer Kris Lees is hoping for better luck for Danish Twist, above, in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Lees is chasing another Autumn Carnival Group 1 win with Danish Twist after Le Romain nosed out the favourite Chautauqua to win the Group 1 $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick last Saturday.

Danish Twist was a well beaten seventh, thirteen lengths behind Dixie Blossoms in the Group 2 $200,000 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 25 but Lees told the stewards that the Dane Shadow mare wasn’t comfortable on the heavy track and also failed to settle in a slowly run race.

“Nothing went right for her that day,” Lees told Racing New South Wales News.

“She over-raced with the slow tempo and found it impossible to make up ground.”

At her previous start, first up since the Spring, Danish Twist was only beaten one and a quarter lengths when fourth to In Her Time in the Group 2 $200,000 China Horse Club Breeders Classic (1200m) at Randwick on February 4.

Danish Twist has eight victories from twenty-three starts with her best winning effort being in the Group 3 $200,000 Godolphin Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone during the 2016 Autumn Carnival.

In early betting for the Coolmore Classic Danish Twist is marked at the good odds of $21 at Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Chris Waller trained filly Omei Sword as the $3 favourite.

Ron Quinton’s last start Guy Walter Stakes winner Dixie Blossoms and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour share the next line of betting at $7.

Omei Sword’s start to her Autumn Carnival campaign was delayed after the filly was suffering from muscle soreness but she resumed with an eye catching first up second to Kiwi filly La Bella Diosa in the Group 2 $200,000 Theraces.com.au Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 25 with Global Glamour finishing in third spot.

The Mandy and Matt Brown trained La Bella Diosa is also nominated for the Coolmore Classic and is next in the market order at $9.50 and as well as Omei Sword, Waller has also nominated Foxplay ($11), Shillelagh ($41) and French Emotion ($61).

Early market order for the Coolmore Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Omei Sword, $7 Dixie Blossoms, Global Glamour, $9.50 La Bella Diosa, $11 Foxplay, $12 In Her Time, $15 First Seal, Silent Sedition, $19 Denmagic, $21 Danish Twist, Daysee Doom, $26 Euro Angel, $31 Abbey Marie, $35 Single Gaze, $41 Shillelagh, Thames Court, Zanbagh, $51 Heavens Above, Hieroglyphics, Rocket Commander, $61 French Emotoin, Nurse Kitchen, Sebring Dream, Sold For Song, $301 I Told Georgie.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.