Trots star: Chris Lang Jnr wins the Group 1 2011 Vicbred 4YO Final aboard Miss Bullion.
Chris Lang Jnr says his Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic (3YO Trotting Fillies) Final runner Del Ray Dancer has a bright future.
“She’s got gears that not every horse has,” the Nagambie trainer said.
“I’m excited about the future with her. She would’ve won easily at her first start had she trotted all the way.
“Last start … if I had stayed in a bit longer she probably wins.”
The daughter of Eilean Donon/River Nymph is coming off a third at Bendigo behind Zaire Diva and Casa Fundada when she loomed up out wide approaching the final turn.
On Saturday night she’ll line up from gate 11 against nine other young trotters all in search of Group 1 glory in the $50,000, 1720m race at Tabcorp Park Melton.
“She was laying in turning and then she hung out a bit (last start),” Lang Jnr said.
“This week we’re putting a pole on the inside to get her around the corners and we’ll put blocks on her to straighten her up.
“She’s a bit highly strung and can be hard to control.”
Sky Petite – a granddaughter of Maori’s Idol – looks hard to beat in the fillies’ final, the Dean Pattison trained trotter winning her last two starts in strong fashion with regular reinsman Steven Duffy in the cart.
“It’ll be tough (for Del Ray Dancer) with Sky Petite having drawn so well (in gate two),” Lang Jnr said.
“I definitely feel she can mix it with the best fillies but she’ll go for a break after this run and her best is probably 3-6 months away.”
Lang Jnr said last-start winner Waikare Aristocrat was his best chance in Race 1, the Merry Christmas Trotters Handicap. He also puts the polish on Lysenko in the first.
