News

Hot Danish on course to add a second major

24th May 2010

Sydney Morning Herald](http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/hot-danish-on-course-to-add-a-second-major-20100523-w3zx.html) - Craig Young - Monday, 24 May 2010

The people's mare, Hot Danish, is heading north for Saturday's Doomben 10,000 and trainer Les Bridge is confident the strapping six-year-old will receive a surface to suit in the group 1 event.

''She will work here at Randwick on Tuesday and go up to Brisbane on Wednesday,'' Bridge said yesterday.

''What can I do about the weather? According to the weather forecaster there will be no problems. They tell me showers are due on Tuesday and then it is going to be fine. We'll wait and see what happens.''

Wet tracks have played havoc with Hot Danish's career. The daughter of Nothin' Leica Dane has won 13 of 24 starts and earned a huge following, which was evident when she was given a rousing reception after cracking it for a belated group 1 victory in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick last month.

''I'm not going to run her in the wet, it would be futile, when those tracks get wet up there they really get wet,'' Bridge said. ''If she doesn't run up there she can come home and spell at Emirates Park where she always spells.

''She'll only have a couple of weeks out. She is getting older and we'll have to get her ready for the spring.''

Awaiting the mare in the Doomben 10,000 are fellow group 1 winners Albert The Fat and Melito, which fought out the BTC Cup at Doomben nine days ago. Beaten BTC Cup favourite Ortensia, which rounded up rivals in winning The Galaxy at Randwick, is running again, along with Bart Cummings's BTC Cup third placegetter Latin News.

Hugh Bowman, who missed the winning ride on Metal Bender in Saturday's group 1 Doomben Cup, is back on Ortensia, and the premier Sydney jockey picked up the ride on Kiwi raider Keyora in the Grand Prix Stakes.

Metal Bender's trainer Chris Waller has booked Larry Cassidy for his multiple group 1 placegetter Shellscrape in the Doomben 10,000. The three-year-old was involved in an intense speed battle up front in the BTC Cup when a tiring eighth.

Gai Waterhouse intends running Swift Alliance in the 10,000 after the galloper overcame a setback. The stable's retained jockey, Nash Rawiller, is heading north for the ride.

The 10,000 features the return of trainer Mark Kavanagh's dual group 1 winner Whobegotyou, which has been off the racing scene for nine months.

''He's had a couple of jump-outs and he's fresh and happy and he's coming back in good order,'' Kavanagh said yesterday. ''He'd never had a long break since beginning his career as a late two-year-old and so it was always the plan to give him this long spell and he's reaped the benefits of it as he's muscled up and filled out.''

Hot Danish has not raced since winning the All Aged Stakes on the final day of the AJC autumn carnival at Randwick on April 24.

Bridge scheduled Hot Danish in for a barrier trial at Rosehill last Tuesday but the heats were washed out.

He had considered giving Hot Danish an exhibition gallop at Rosehill two days ago, but when the track came up dead the trainer, who has a Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper in the trophy cabinet, decided to stay at home.

''It wasn't any great inconvenience,'' Bridge said. ''She worked here at Randwick yesterday morning and she went well. She has freshened up good and is ready to go.''

Bridge confirmed jockey Tim Clark, who has won 11 races aboard Hot Danish, will continue his association with her, while the trainer is not concerned about the five weeks between runs.

''I couldn't go to the BTC Cup, this way I can control what she does,'' Bridge said. ''She wouldn't have blown a candle out after the gallop yesterday, she is so clean-winded.

''You saw what Beaded did on Saturday, she hadn't raced for a month.''

Beaded won the BRC Sprint at Doomben on Saturday, having not started since finishing third behind Hot Danish and Melito in the All Aged Stakes. ''I'm not worried about the break,'' Bridge said.