Group 1 winner Danceteria heads to Australia for Cox Plate challenge

Danceteria flies out of Britain on Thursday night for an Australian mission which centres on the Ladbrokes Cox Plate at the end of October.

David Menuisier's Group 1 winner, who is part-owned by Australian Bloodstock, delighted his trainer with his last piece of work on Tuesday, and remains firmly on course to tackle a race which has been won for the last four years by the legendary Winx.

"He leaves quarantine in the UK tomorrow and flies to Australia in the evening," Menuisier revealed on Wednesday.

"I'm very pleased with him. He's in a good place both physically and mentally. It's a long way to go, but it's something I'm really looking forward to. Believe me, this horse is very good."

The trip is focused on an attempt to land the prestigious Cox Plate, but Danceteria, who was last seen in action when clinching the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich in July, will also have a prep run at Caulfield in the Ladbrokes Stakes – the race Benbatl won en route to finishing second in the Cox Plate last year.

Benbatl (near side) won last year's Ladbrokes StakesCredit: Racing Photos

Menuisier added: "Danceteria has always been a nice horse, but it was castration after he got beat in a handicap at last year’s Craven Meeting which was the making of him.

"Some may say it wasn’t a very good Group 1 in Germany, but a Group 1 is a Group 1 and he ran on ground that didn’t really suit him after heavy rain. If the ground had been quicker he’d have been even more impressive.

"He’s likely to get quick ground in Australia which he’ll love. I’m going out there on Sunday week – five days before his first race – to supervise his preparation. It's going to be an exciting challenge."

Hughie Morrison's Marmelo, who finished runner-up to Cross Counter in the Melbourne Cup last year, remains firmly on course for a third tilt at Australia's most famous race.

Mathew Becker, racing manager for Aziz 'Ozzie' Kheir, part-owner of Marmelo, said: "Hughie thinks he's got him right where he wants him.

"His whole campaign has been geared around the Melbourne Cup and Hughie has a well-worn path with him now and knows the horse inside-out.

"He seems to thrive as soon as he gets off the plane at Werribee and enjoys his time down here. It's going to be tough with the handicap mark he's got, but we still think he's got a great chance."

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