Racing: Dancing Chief ready to back-up

Greg Graham twice tried to sell Dancing Chief without success.

Tomorrow at Ellerslie, Dancing Chief will get within grabbing distance of $100,000 in earnings if he wins the $45,000 DLA Phillips Fox Cornwall Handicap.

"I tried to sell him as a weanling and again as a yearling and I didn't get a bid," said the South Auckland horseman.

Dancing Chief is the only horse racing for Graham, who describes himself as a stock agent, farmer and manager of Salisbury Park, which runs a broodmare band.

And a horse trainer. "I've also got a Keeninsky filly I'm breaking in."

Dancing Chief showed how well he was by being narrowly beaten by Appleton's Lass at Ellerslie last weekend over 1600m, when his previous start - a winning one - was at 2400m at Te Rapa.

Racing seven days later is a bit new to the emerging stayer, but Graham is unconcerned.

"I'm pretty sure he'll back-up pretty well. I'm happy with him."

Dancing Chief displayed plenty of "stickability" to win the 2400m race at Te Rapa and running here over 2200m, after last week's race, looks perfect.

With Te Rapa rider Maija Vance suspended, he will be ridden by improving apprentice Harry Kasim.

"It's very difficult to get a jockey than can ride at 52kg, so I've put Harry on the horse. He knows him and I think he'll do a good job, even though there are no claims in the race."

Mes Yeux Bleus has won her past two well and steps up a grade to open class here. She should be even fitter again for winning at Ellerslie last weekend, which was only her third race of the campaign.

Harvest The Gold, No Cash and Kiri are all capable of going close.

Cambridge trainer Anne Herbert has scrapped plans to attack the second half of the Queensland carnival with Salvatore and Prairie Star, both of whom loom as winning chances at Ellerslie tomorrow.

Salvatore looks nicely placed on 53.5kg in the ninth race.

The mid-field draw should be perfect for late in the programme, allowing Salvatore to stay at least one width out from the rail.

Prairie Star, coming off a strong Te Rapa victory,meets a talented bunch of 3-year-olds over 1600m in Race 5.