La Danseuse Rouge storms home at Caulfield

La Danseuse Rouge has defied a betting drift to almost break the course record in an impressive victory at Caulfield.

The Cliff Brown-trained mare came from third last on the hometurn to claim the Manhari Metals handicap (1100m) on Saturday.

On the official first day of winter, La Danseuse Rouge ran the 1100m journey in 1 min 01.74 secs, just 0.01 secs outside of the course record set by Here De Angel back in 2010.

Ridden by Harry Coffey, Le Danseuse Rouge ($21) scored by a length from Ashford Street ($6) with Extremely Lucky ($9) a head away third.

La Danseuse Rouge resumed last month finishing fifth to Ashford Street at Caulfield where she had been edgy in the barriers prior to the start.

Brown said drawing the outside barrier was beneficial for the mare on Saturday.

“She wasn’t perfect in the gates, but I think drawing wide was significant,” Brown said.

“We’ve sent her away to try and fix her. She hasn’t been perfect, but she is getting better, and she did run well first-up.”

The next plan for Brown is to try and pick out a suitable Stakes race to add to her success in the Lightning Stakes at Morphettville last year.

Brown said the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m), both at Caulfield next month, may suit.

“She enjoys cut in the tracks, so we’ll try and find a nice Stakes races over a short course that will suit her,” Brown said.

“She’s been pretty competitive in the past She’s a big girl. She’s around 580 kilos, she eats well, so the racing shouldn’t worry her.”

Coffey was having his first ride on the mare and had been ‘warned’ by fellow riders of La Danseuse Rogue’s antics in the barriers.

“She’s unique, and when you’re putting the colours on, all the riders that have ridden her before say ‘do you know that one’,” Coffey said.

“I didn’t, but I’d heard about her, and she was last in the barriers today which was a big help.

“I don’t think it is any secret that everyone in our industry has great respect for our barrier attendants and here in Victoria we have some of the best I’ve come across.

“When you’ve got good help, things usually go pretty smoothly and being last in and having good help, really helped me.

“The way the race unfolded, it allowed her to finish off with a powerful finish.”