Dash Dosh NZ winning the 2025 NZ Trotting Oaks
ANOTHER star Kiwi arrives in Brisbane this week.
Already boom four-year-old pacer Marketplace is in town and will tune-up for the $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun through Saturday night’s Wondais Mate Open Pace (1660m) at Albion Park.
Now exciting four-year-old trotting mare Dash Dosh has arrived for a tilt at Saturday week’s $150,000 Group 1 Great Square.
It’s breaking new ground for popular Kiwi trainer Tom Bagrie as the first horse has campaign in Australia.
Dash Dosh has already been some Aussie stars in Tracy The Jet and Gatesys Gem when she won the Group 1 NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington last November.
The win planted the first seed for Bagrie to cross the ditch and tackle the Great Square.
Three strong performances this campaign, capped by an impressive Addington win on June 12, cemented the trip.
“This is exciting. It’s the first time I’ve had a horse good enough to travel with,” Bagrie said.
“She got a bit crook while she was out, so she took a bit longer to come up. She needed those first couple of runs back and then we saw her back to her best last time.
“Just as importantly, she’s really come on well since that win and we’re looking forward to giving it a crack.”
Bagrie confirmed his great mate, top horseman John Dunn, would take the Great Square.
“Johnny actually booked his flights before me, so it’s been a plan to come for a while,” Bagrie said.
Bagrie knows the enormity of the challenge ahead, even though his mare is kept very safe in Great Square betting as a $4.50 third favourite.
“It looks like a strong race and that’s what everyone is telling me,” he said. “I don’t watch a lot of the Aussie racing, but I’ve been tuning in lately to watch some of the others going for this race.
“Obviously there are some bloody nice horses in the race.”
Like many trainers, Bagrie will be sweating on barrier draw, which is a bit different given the preferential conditions.
With the race being for just three and four year-olds, the preferential order is three-year-old fillies, then colts and geldings, then four-year-old mares and finally four-year-old boys.
“I’m sure the draw will be a key part, but she’s a mare who can make her own luck, too,” he said.
Last year’s Australian 3YO Trotter of the Year, Mecarno, is the favourite at $3.50.
His trainer-driver Mick Bellman has given him two solid unplaced runs in strong free-for-all company this campaign to tune him up.
Another key player is classy Victorian mare Jilliby Dreamlover, who returns from a spell in a mares’ free-for-all at Melton on Saturday night.
Part of the Team Lee juggernaut, Jilliby Dreamlover led throughout to win a heat the Great Southern Star earlier this year before finishing third in the final behind stablemates Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini.
PHOTO: Race Images NZ
