‘Dancer’ to waltz home

The son of Fort Wood retired to stud in the USA following an injury but was not put to the best of mares. It is only since he has returned to South Africa and started to stand at Drakenstein Stud that Horse Chestnut has started to produce a succession of winners.

One of his progeny, Chestnut Dancer, will be in action at Durbanville on today in Race 5 at Durbanville, a MR 83 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m, and although she has not exactly set the racing world alight, Mike Stewart’s charge has performed consistently well. She has raced seven times for one win and six places, and other than her debut race in which she cast a shoe in running after losing three lengths at the start, Chestnut Dancer has not been far behind the winner.

She will be trying 1400m for the first time and this will be her first run at Durbanville. It is hard to second guess how horses will perform at this course but as she has a tendency to sit up with the pace, she should run well.

Stewart is in good form and some of his best results come when Bernard Fayd’Herbe is aboard his runners. Fayd’Herbe is aboard Chestnut Dancer and should be worth more than the 0.5kg overweight she will have to carry.  She is drawn No 6 and if she handles the tight-turning track could be the best bet on the card.

The main threat could be Catchphrase who might not be as talented but does have decent form over the course and distance.