Exciting Debut for Grunt Filly Dancer For Money

Mark Smith - Friday January 19

Despite being easy in betting, the Grunt filly Dancer For Money made short work of a field of six debutants in the Geelong Homes Maiden Plate (1130m) for two-year-olds at Geelong on Friday.

Impressive debut (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Liam Riordan for Danny O’Brien, the Yulong homebred was ridden aggressively to sit outside the leader Little Princess.

Taking control on straightening,  the daughter of Grunt found the line strongly to defeat the well-supported Per Incanto filly Queen Amanjena by two and a quarter lengths, with the Hellnbent colt Hellberg a half-length back in third.

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Dancer For Money is the first winner from two to race for the winning Savabeel mare Nutbush, whose dam Dancing Song is a sister to Group II AJC Sapphire Stakes winner Fire Song (Senior Pete).

A $44,000 purchase for Yu Long Investments from the Willow Park Stud draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale, Nutbush was sold to Shawn Mathrick for $3,500 on Inglis Digital in August last year when carrying a brother to Dancer For Money.

Dancer For Money is the first 2-year-old winner from two starters this season for Yulong Stud’s VRC Australian Guineas and VRC Makybe Diva Stakes winner Grunt.  

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Race Result - Geelong Homes Mdn Plate 1130m

Geelong Track: Good(4) Time: 1:07.39
1
Dancer For Money
- 2f Grunt (NZ) x Nutbush (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Liam Riordan 56
2
2.3
Queen Amanjena
- 2f Per Incanto (USA) x Amanjena (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Damian Lane 56
3
2.8
Hellberg
- 2c Hellbent (AUS) x Annenberg (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: Ben Brisbourne Rdr: Connor Murtagh 58
4
4.8
Georgiegina
- 2f National Defense (GB) x Greetie (AUS) (Zoustar (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: Jordan Childs 56
5
5.8
Sophedge
- 2f Capitalist (AUS) x Sophie's Spirit (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56
6
6.5
Little Princess
- 2f Sooboog (AUS) x Hikaya (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Stephenson Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
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