Australia: Dance to Dubai steps up to group stakes after pairing wins

The Australian mare Dance to Dubai won consecutive starts for the first time in more than a year in six-furlong handicaps at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on Dec. 31 and Jan. 21.

Dance to Dubai won both races by at least two lengths in a manner that has led to her being sent to the island of Tasmania for her group stakes debut in her 21st start in the Group 3 Bow Mistress Stakes at six furlongs at Hobart Racecourse on Thursday evening.

Trained by Peter Moody, Dance to Dubai is part of a field of 13 fillies and mares in the $103,900 Bow Mistress Stakes. The big field will be a test for Dance to Dubai who tends to set the pace. She will break from post 11 and will be ridden by apprentice Carleen Hefel, who was aboard for the recent wins at Moonee Valley.

Despite the wide draw, Dance to Dubai may not face too much pressure on the front. Riduna, a winner of 3 of 15 starts, has won from the front at seven furlongs as recently as August, but has not raced since she finished last of 16 in the Group 2 Golden Pendant Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in September.

Hobart has an eight-race program beginning at 11:17 p.m. Eastern, or 8:17 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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While the Bow Mistress Stakes is the most prestigious race on the program, it shares a prize money level with the $103,900 Tasmanian Derby for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at 1 3/8 miles.

Dunkel, a winner of 4 of 5 starts, will be a heavy favorite in a field of eight. Dunkel won his stakes debut in the Launceston Guineas at 1 5/16 miles at Launceston Racecourse in Tasmania on Jan. 27 for his third consecutive win.

Midnight Glow, third to Dunkel in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-olds at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Jan. 14, will be the second choice.