News

Hot Danish eyeing Queen Of The Turf

1st Apr 2009

Racing and Sports - Wednesday, 1 April 2009

Hot Danish appears to have the Group One Queen Of The Turf Stakes at her mercy and jockey Tim Clark says there will be no excuses for the mare on Saturday.

The five-year-old is the $2.60 favourite on TAB Sportsbet ahead of the Peter Snowden-trained Forensics at $5 for the 1500-metre feature at Rosehill.

New Zealander Culminate from the Stephen McKee yard has been backed from $10 in to $8.50 and is equal third pick with the Mark Kavanagh-trained Champagne Harmony .

Hot Danish is rated by many as one of the best horses in Australia not to have won at Group One level.

The widest barrier, 14, and the prospect of a heavy track are of no concern to Clark who believes the mare is in the best shape of her career.

"I rode her on Tuesday morning and she was outstanding, the best she's ever been," Clark said.

"She'll put herself in the race from out there and while she's better on top of the ground she still goes well on rain-affected going, so there's no dramas."

Rosehill track manager Lindsay Murphy said 42 millimetres had fallen overnight on the surface that was rated a heavy eight.

At best, Murphy said the track could race in the slow range.

The Les Bridge-trained Hot Danish has never won on a heavy track but finished second to Eskimo Queen in the Group One Coolmore Classic on that surface last year.

The mare has two wins from three starts on slow tracks including her win in the Group Two Breeders' Classic (1200m) at Randwick in February.

"She's a class mare and she belongs at this level and really deserves to have a Group One to her name and I can't see any reason she can't win on Saturday," Clark said.

Clark rode Hot Danish to a narrow barrier trial win over Group One winner Light Fantastic at Randwick last Friday.

"Her trial was very good, Light Fantastic came at her about 100 metres from home and she lifted and didn't let it past, she loves winning no matter if it's a trial or a race," Clark said.

"That hitout topped her fitness level right up to where it has to be for these big races, she's ready."