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SYDNEY - A lack of competitive horses has kept New Zealand trainer Bruce Wallace at home for the past few years but Grand Dancer has brought about a change.
The 3-year-old will line up in Saturday's Run To The Rose (1300m) at Rosehill in preparation for the big spring features.
Wallace, who has won group one races in Australia with the likes of Star Dancer, Kingston Bay and Lord Revenir, is excited about the colt's prospects.
"I've had a big opinion of him since day one," Wallace said.
"I wouldn't be bringing him to Australia if I didn't think he could be a carnival horse.
"We paid $280,000 for him as a yearling at Karaka and I thought he was one of the top five colts in the sale. He is a magnificent looking horse and has the right nature to be a top horse.
"Originally I thought we would go straight into the Golden Rose on September 1 but he might need to pick up a bit more prizemoney to get in so we will see how he goes on Saturday.
"Of course a lot of things can go wrong and he has to travel over well and eat up when he gets there. But I think he is the real thing. He's faultless."
Grand Dancer, who will be ridden by Scott Seamer on Saturday, has won two of his five starts including his most recent at Ruakaka last Saturday week.
He was one of 23 nominations for the group three Run to The Rose (1300m) with Golden Slipper winner Forensics among the entries along with AJC Sires' winning stablemate Camarilla.
The John Hawkes-trained Camarilla is also entered for the group two weight-for-age Premiere Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Wallace has two plans in place depending on how Grand Dancer goes in his first two Sydney assignments.
"I think he has the potential to be a Victoria Derby horse so there are races like the Gloaming Stakes and Spring Champion Stakes to look at," he said.
"But that depends on how he goes in the sprints. There are all sorts of options for him."
- AAP
