Trainer was – optimistic about Graphic Dance

Press, 10 October 1983, Page 26

Trainer was - optimistic about Graphic Dance

Special correspondent Wellington

The Stratford trainer, Dick Bothwell, never doubted Graphic Dance’s chances of winning the Lowland Stakes at Masterton on Saturday.

He admitted that he had been a little concerned after her disappointing run for tenth in the Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings but his confidence had been boosted by some brilliant track work by the filly in the last fortnight. > He said the easy track on Saturday had also been an advantage, adding that he thought the filly may be a little suspect on hard tracks.

Graphic Dance had looked so good last year when she won first-up at Otaki in September and she added another win on the same course in December. Two other starts as a juvenile netted a fourth and a fifth. She had been off the scene for some nine months when she lined up in the Gold Trail Stakes and never really got into the act in that, beating only three home. Bothwell said he had tried

to keep Graphic Dance fresh for the Gold Trail as he thought she would be better over distances longer than the 1200 m of that race. “But I had her a little too fresh,” he said.

Graphic Dance, which led throughout Saturday’s 1400 m event, gave Bothwell his second success in the race. He produced Summer Haze to win in 1980. Last year he had three entrants, Valley Mist, Lisander and Passakiss, and they finished fourth, fifth and eighth respectively. Bothwell compared Graphic Dance’s improvement with Summer Haze’s performances in 1980. “Summer Haze got beaten in the Gold Trail and then won the Lowland. Our horses always seem to be a month behind in the spring,” he said. Graphic .Dance is raced by the United States oil tycoon, Mr Nelson Bunker Hunt, and was bred at his Waikato Stud, being by Diagramatic from the imported mare, Ballet Girl 11.

The mare raced in France, where she won four races and was purchased by Hunt after she finished racing. She is the dam of eight

horses to race and has produced five winners. The most notable have been Satin Doll and Bartlesville, while a Decies colt was sold at this year’s national sales for $14,000.

Graphic Dance is one of eight horses Hunt has currently in work and only the second he has had with Bothwell, who was assistant manager of Waikato Stud for five years.

Ballet Girl II was sold last year to the Cambridge breeder, Phil Bayly, who raced the fine mare, Blue Denim. Ballet Girl II has not produced for a couple of years and will go to the Paramount Stud sire, Dedicated Rulah, this season. Saturday’s race was something of a lucky break for Bothwell’s apprentice, Peter Fearon, who was having his first ride on the filly. Maurice Campbell, who rode the horse at Hastings, and David Walsh, the regular rider last season, both had the chance to ride Graphic Dance on Saturday but opted for Otoia Belle and Eastern Bay instead.

Fearon, who does not ride the filly in trackwork either,

filled in admirably and Bothwell confirmed him as the rider for her next engagement, the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham on October 22.

Fearon, who started his apprenticeship in the north, moved south to the Bothwell camp about 10 months ago and his career has surged ahead since. He has now ridden 55 winners, 42 since coming south. The Lowland represents his best success, just ahead of the Whyte Handicap aboard Greek Meer in July.

Graphic Dance jumped brilliantly from the No. 2 stall on Saturday and was always travelling comfortably in the lead.

The favourite, Burletta, lodged a brief challenge on the turn but Graphic Dance soon shook her off and was never seriously challenged after, winning easily by two lengths. Aptitude ran on strongly for second, with Eastern Bay a length and a half back, third. Her rider, David Walsh, said she all but fell at the start and he was pleased with her effort under the circumstances.