The Sun Dance Impressive Debut Winner for Wandjina

Mark Smith - Sunday July 14

There was no shortage of green 2-year-olds tracking down the straight in the Vale Don Jackson Maiden Plate (1000m), which paved the way for the Wanjina debutant The Sun Dance to capture the opener on Caloundra Cup Day.

Settled midfield by Robbie Dolan, The Sun Dance made his run on the inside as the leader, Warrior Head, veered out, taking a few with him.

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The heavy track proved no obstacle for The Sun Dance, who went to the line straight as an arrow to defeat the Flying Artie debutant Tell No Gossip by a half-length with the well-supported Headwater gelding Warrior Head back in third.

Trained by James Moore, The Sun Dance was a $65,000 purchase from the Collingrove Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.

The Sun Dance a $65,000 Inglis Great Southern Weanling

The son of Wandjina is the sixth winner from as many foals for the Beautiful Crown (USA) mare Hilldale, who won on debut at Cessnock and never raced again.

From the family of Horse Of The Year, Research, Hilldale has a weanling filly by Fierce Impact (JPN) and was covered by Kermadec.

Larneuk Stud’s Group 1 winning stallion Wandjina is riding high in Hong Kong as the sire of the recently crowned Champion 4-year-old Galaxy Patch Champion 4YO and last weeks Happy Valley winners, Prince Of Porty and Flamingo Trillion.

The handsome son of Snippets stands for a value fee of $6,600. 

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Race Result - Vale Don Jackson Mdn Plate 1000m

Sunshine Coast Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:00.73
1
The Sun Dance
- 2g Wandjina (AUS) x Hilldale (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: James Moore Rdr: R Dolan 58
2
0.5
Tell No Gossip
- 2g Flying Artie (AUS) x Tell No Tales (AUS) (Your Song (AUS))
Tnr: Peter Robl Rdr: Jag Guthmann-Chester 58
3
0.8
Warrior Head
- 2g Headwater (AUS) x Rosendahl (AUS) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: Angela Jones 58
4
1.3
Tarifa
- 2f Deep Field (AUS) x Discreet (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Damien Thornton 56
5
1.7
Vorkuta
- 2c Under The Louvre (AUS) x Arctic Circle (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 58
6
2.5
Weather
- 2g Invader (AUS) x Precipitate (AUS) (Masked Assassin (AUS))
Tnr: W P Nugent Rdr: V Duric 58
7
6.5
Capital Diva
- 2f Capitalist (AUS) x Diva Dee (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Gary Doughty Rdr: Rachel King 56
8
7.8
Champagne Rouge
- 2f Stratum Star (AUS) x Chappy's Dream (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: S T Collett 56
9
8
Rothelly
- 2f Rothesay (AUS) x Ellythea (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: P P Jenkins Rdr: J Byrne 56
10
13.5
My Sunset
- 2f Invader (AUS) x Crowned Lizzie (AUS) (Hallowed Crown (AUS))
Tnr: Louise White Rdr: Emily Lang 56
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