Unbeaten filly Circus Dancer defied $25 odds to keep her perfect record intact in the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui on Saturday.
The $80,000 three-year-old fillies’ feature was the second start for the Cody Cole-trained filly, whose only previous appearance produced a maiden win by two and a quarter lengths at New Plymouth on October 24. She was sent out as the eighth favourite in a field of nine on Saturday, overshadowed by much higher-rated rivals such was War Princess ($2.30) and Lubeck ($2.80).
But Circus Dancer turned that script on its head with an emphatic victory.
She was put in a prominent position by jockey Madan Singh, sitting outside the leader Places To Be until the turn.
Singh got Circus Dancer balanced up after straightening for home, then drove her forward. She produced a smart turn of foot and dashed to a clear lead just past the 200m mark.
War Princess warmed into her work late in the piece and flashed home along the inside, but Circus Dancer had enough up her sleeve to hold on and win by a neck.
The Fillies’ Stakes was the third black-type success for Cole, who has previously taken out the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) with Astor in 2018 and the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) with Renegade Rebel in 2024. It was the second taste of feature-race success for Singh, who won the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) aboard Sheez Dominant in 2022.
“Everything went perfectly,” Singh said. “She jumped well and I put her up there, and she travelled really nicely and comfortably all the way.
“When I asked her in the straight, she gave a really good response. It was a great effort, going into a Listed race in only her second start. I’m very grateful to the owner and Cody Cole for the opportunity to ride such a nice filly.”
Raced by John Wood, Circus Dancer has now earned $56,360 from her two-start, two-win career. She was bought for just $3,200 from Gavelhouse.com as a yearling in July of 2024.
Circus Dancer was bred by the late Rick Orr and is by Circus Maximus out of the unraced mare Folies Bergere. That daughter of O’Reilly has produced five winners from five foals to race, with two of them now stakes winners – Circus Dancer and the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) winner Khanshe. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
