Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine Ole Dancer will bid to land a second group 1 this weekend when she takes to Rosehill Gardens Racecourse March 14 for the Coolmore Classic Handicap (G1).
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained daughter of Ole Kirk has made two starts since her Guineas win in October, a runner-up effort in the Desirable Stakes Feb. 14 before a third placing in the Surround Stakes (G1) a fortnight later. Moody said Ole Dancer had progressed well since her Surround placing and reported she had galloped well in front of Coleman in Sydney on the weekend.
"She stayed up there and has done well," Moody said. "Katherine's been up there and is really pleased with how she is. Zac Lloyd rides her on Saturday as Trumby (Luke Nolen) can't make the weight."
Classy mare Lazzura makes up one half of a two-pronged attack for Chris Waller in Saturday's race over 1,500 meters (about 7 1/2 furlongs), but history will be against the 4-year-old in the group 1. The five-time winner sits at the top of the handicap alongside Manaal with 58 kilograms, an impost no mare has carried to victory since the mighty Sunline lumped 60 kilograms to her brace of Coolmore wins in 2000 and 2002.
"She was a little bit soft first-up (when second in the Feb. 21 Millie Fox Stakes) and she has come on nicely," Waller said. "She had another trial last week and she has come through it well."
James McDonald rides Lazzura from barrier 8, while stablemate Firestorm has drawn 12.
