Lucky Number 26?

Published: 25 Dec 2014

Iron-horse - Built like a sprinter, Casino Dancer won over 1900m at her 23rd start this year

It's very rare to see a city-grade galloper bring up the milestone that Casino Dancer is today. No other horse has been seen by the The Race Guide team as much as her.

Today the iron-horse of Sydney racing brings up her 26th start for the year. And it just happens to fall on Boxing Day, the 26th day of December.

The impressive part is not just the pure volume of starts, it is the way she performs each time. After such a high volume of races she doesn't have the 'turn-of-foot' others do, but she always tries hard right to the line. A perfect example being last week behind Phrases where she couldn't sprint on the turn and then lifted right to the winning post.

That determination resulted in her first win of the year in early December, just a few starts ago. She took off early and kept coming to grind down Chris Waller's tough galloper Beyond Thankful. It was a very special moment on an otherwise unexciting day of off-season racing. 

Much-deserved - Mike Van Gestel after Casino Dancer's Canterbury win

You can also see from the way she parades in the yard that she is usually well below her peak. While others parade with more muscle condition and a shiny coat, Casino Dancer can look a bit 'scrappy' in the yard. Something that only adds to her reputation as one very tough mare.

The race today is one of the hardest she has taken on during an epic year - the Listed Summer Cup over 2000m, a distance that is usually behind her strong physique.

Her chances are small, but you know she will be giving her all.

The full Race Guide for the Summer Cup is on-line

A big year ahead - Casino Dancer in the yard in February, start number four for 2014 (photo: The Race Guide mounting yard team)