Still in her first preparation, the Peter Moody-trained Boogie Dancer has progressed from a Donald maiden in June to a runaway victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield and credit Kitchwin Hills stallion Sooboog with his first stakes winner.
Given a patient ride by Luke Nolen, Boogie Dancer revelled in the conditions. The powerfully made chestnut filly picked off runner after runner in the straight to defeat Sumatra (Lonhro) by a widening three and a quarter lengths, with She’s Lickety Split (Turn Me Loose) a length back in third.
Boogie Dancer reeled off wins at Donald Sandown and Caulfield before having little luck when sixth in the Listed Atlantic Jewel stakes at her most recent start.
Luke Nolen said he was not unhappy about the deteriorating track.
“She had form in it, so we weren’t disappointed that the rain came,” Nolen said.
It’s hard to get a horse off winter form and get them to peak again, but Pete’s been able to get her to hold her form. That’s a massive tick for Pete and Katherine and the team at home. She’s a very relaxed and capable horse to do anything with at home. She takes everything in her stride.
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uo;I was always going to be second-half and ride her to be strongest late.
She’ll probably go to the beach for a week now and have a couple of tick over gallops and she’ll be right for the final.”
Syndicate spokesman Wylie Dalziel said he was also pleased to see the rain.
“Our confidence grew with the rain. It was good timing,” Dalziel said
“I’m biased, but we’re in one of the best camps with Peter Moody and Jeff O’Connor and Katherine Coleman and all the team. Jeff and Moods have been together for a long, long time and they are one of the best for setting horses for feature races.
“They said she will find the 1200,m (of the Atlantic Jewel) a bit sharp, but we’ve set a program and away we go. The way she’s won today, we’re off to the Thousand Guineas. It’s a great day.”
Boogie Dancer advances her record to four wins from six starts with earnings of 4 wins $380,800.
Dalziel Bloodstock / Peter Moody Racing purchased Boogie Dancer for $50,000 from the Rushton Park draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
A half-sister to Group III ATC Birthday Card Stakes winner Miss Exfactor (Your Song), Boogie Dancer is the best of six winners from as many foals out of the Quest For Fame mare Search For Fame, a three-quarter sister to dual Group II winner Impaler.
Search For Fame has not had a live foal since Boogie Dancer. She was covered by Your Song last spring.