A strong ride by star jockey Harry Coffey lifted four-year-old mare Dancethenightaway to a tough win on the Ballarat synthetic track on Tuesday. Coffey gave the daughter of Highland Reel a lovely run outside the speed throughout the 2100-metre contest, holding off all comers in the last furlong to record a 0.2-length win on the line. Early speed rival Savoie crossed from the outside of the five-horse field to lead the staying event, Coffey switching to its outside when runners settled into their positions. An early move from Halcyon East injected some speed into the race and it became a real fight from the top of the straight. Dancethenightaway looked to have quelled the challenges of the aforementioned runners, but had to hold off a late surge from Vino Corona to secure the win. It was a welcome return to the winner’s stall for Dancethenightaway, who had been struggling for form since winning on the same surface in June. Coffey praised the mare’s will to win in the final stages. “To her credit, every time a horse came at her she found that little bit extra to get the job done”, he said. “She didn’t win by much, but she just kept finding enough”.
Henry was equally pleased with his mare’s resolve late in the piece. “She was very game, very honest, very tough”.
Dancethenightaway now has three wins from ten career starts, her second this campaign. She will have one more start this preparation, heading to Pakenham on September 1st for the 2200-metre Stayers Final on the synthetic track.