Dance To The Music takes another step forward in G3 Sweet Solera Stakes

Exciting filly Dance To The Music continued an unbeaten start to her career as she repelled Princess Petrol and Venetian Lace in the G3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, 9 August.

Successful on her only previous outing in May, the Dubawi filly jinked right leaving the stalls and soon tracked Venetian Lace in a length second as all five runners made a beeline to the far rail.

Dance To The Music moved up to press Venetian Lace entering the final quarter-mile and the Charlie Appleby-trained filly took up the running over a furlong out before drifting under pressure soon after.

Venetian Lace rallied on the far rail, with Princess Petrol also threatening down the centre of the course. Dance To The Music found more for Billy Loughnane, seeing off both fillies to prevail by a neck over Princess Petrol. Masar filly Venetian Lace kept on in third, a half-length further back.

Dance To The Music’s victory formed part of a sensational afternoon for her family, with her full-brother Space Blues siring his first G1 winner, Power Blue, in the Phoenix Stakes in Ireland just 15 minutes later.

Charlie Appleby said: “It was a very pleasing performance from Dance To The Music. She’s a full-sister to Space Blues and is a lot more forward than her brother. Billy rode her on her debut in the spring and said that she was weak and raw. We have given her all the time at this stage of her career, and we felt this was right time to step up to seven furlongs.

“She has that turn of foot, which Billy used today, which has probably won her the race. Space Blues got quicker as he got older and I think this filly will do the same. She is still raw and is only going to improve with time. We might have a look at the G1 Natalma Stakes in Canada for her next.

“It’s been a great few minutes, with Dance To The Music winning at Newmarket and her full-brother Space Blues getting his first G1 winner in Ireland. I’m delighted for everyone involved and, most importantly, I’m delighted for Space Blues himself, who deserves it.”