Dance In The Grass keeping the momentum up for Cracksman at Sandown

The encouraging start made by Cracksman in his stallion career continued at Sandown on Friday when his daughter Dance In The Grass made a striking debut in the same race won by juvenile champion Native Trail 12 months ago.

Although comparisons with Oasis Dream’s flag bearer, who became the winner of three Group 1s when taking last month’s Irish 2,000 Guineas, are grossly premature, there was certainly plenty to like about the Mark and Charlie Johnston-trained filly as she beat a field full of colts in the seven-furlong Chasemore Farm British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Jointly bred by the Dalgety family and Minster Stud, the chestnut could well be another savvy purchase by the Johnston stable, having picked her up for 57,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The filly is the first foal out of Sir Percy mare Dance The Dream, a Listed-placed full-sister to Knight Salute, the top-class juvenile hurdler for the Milton Harris stable last term.

Watch the replay and view result here

Former jockey Philip Robinson, representing owner Jaber Abdullah, was pleasantly surprised with the way Dance In the Grass kept finding for Silvestre De Sousa to finish two lengths ahead of Godolphin’s odds-on favourite One Nation.

"I was talking to Bruce [Raymond, racing manager] and said I thought she looked a bit of an eyecatcher in the paddock," he said.

"They were hopeful she would run a nice race but she will improve a lot as she was very green. "

Cracksman has now sired an impressive five winners from just nine runners to date and has barely had a runner out of the frame. Three of those have been on the continent in Italy and Spain but he also fielded another filly, Rich, who impressed for the Richard Hannon stable at Newbury a few days ago.

The dual Champion Stakes winner and son of Frankel, standing at a fee of £17,500 at Dalham Hall Stud this year, was not seen until right at the end of his own two-year-old season and has 128 juveniles to represent him in 2022.

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