RACING
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By BEN WALKER
DUBBO trainer Peter Nestor admits he is throwing his handy mare Danish Lace in at the deep end, but is confident the five-year-old will be more than competitive when she lines up in the TAB Ross Cribb OBE Tribute Highway Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
A winner of two races from seven lifetime starts Danish Lace has been somewhat of a project for Nestor, and while he would rather not be taking her to Sydney the lure of the $40,000 race was too much to ignore.
"These highway races are good but I would much rather see them on a rotation through the various regions of the bush. For me to take her down there for this race is a six-hour trip each way and a three-day exercise," Nestor said.
"I'll take her down on Friday, she will race Saturday and I'll bring her back Sunday.
"But it is what it is. The good thing is there is some good prizemoney on offer for bush horses so we have to go there.
"I think she will run well. She's had a while between runs but she's very honest and I think the big field will suit her."
The Manton x Lace Wing (GB) mare heads into Saturday's race on the back of a last-start defeat at Coonamble as a short-priced favourite.
Nestor admitted he thought she would win that day but added there were excuses.
"On form she was probably the one to beat at Coonamble but she still had to lug the 61kg. She had 60kg but with the vest she carries 61kg and it was too much for her but she was still very brave.
"She's been leading in her races but I think with the big field on Saturday there should be a bit of tempo and from a good gate I'm hopeful she will find herself in a good position just off the pace.
"She drops down to 55kg which will help her as well."
Nestor's former protege Kathy O'Hara will ride Danish Lace, a mare that is part-owned by well-known Dubbo centurion Jeff Perry.
The trainer admits it would be a big thrill if he could win the race for the connections and also O'Hara.
"Jeff came to me wanting a horse and I had liked this one at the Classic sales," Nestor said.
"A mate of mine bred her but he wanted too much for her, and when Jeff came to me I found out not much had been done with her and we reached an agreement.
"She'd been broken in and given time to mature, which suited Jeff. He's a character and actually joked to me that he might not be around to see a yearling get to the races so he was keen.
"I think Kathy will suit this mare as well, just with the balanced way she rides. The fields are small in Sydney and there's a lot of top jockeys so she doesn't get much of a chance unfortunately so it would be great if we could combine for another winner."